The jewelry industry was valued at approximately 279 billion US dollars in the year 2018. A figure that has been estimated to rise exponentially to over 480 billion US dollars by the year 2025. With over 200 variations of natural gemstones, a hundred or so precious metals, and volumes of designs to choose from, picking out jewelry for special occasions such as engagements might seem daunting.
Notwithstanding the various types of rings available, buyers also have to factor in their budget, preferences, and any sentiments attached. Therefore, picking out jewelry seems like a lot more than just going to the store and picking at random. However, just because it might take some planning doesn’t mean that it’s an impossible feat.
We’re going to guide you through the essentials of picking out rings with everyone’s favorite piece – diamond rings. Everything from personal preferences to international standards, from a simple band to a diamond eternity ring
Table of Contents
Picking Out a Diamond: The 4 C’s
The ‘ 4 C’s’, is an international diamond grading system intended to be referred to as a guideline for picking out diamonds rather than as a scale. They are as follows; cut, color, clarity, and carat. Besides cut, all of the factors are based on the naturally occurring state of the diamond. Therefore, the price range would differ progressively.
However, as aforementioned, the 4 Cs are to be referred to as a guideline when selecting the perfect diamond for you. Not necessarily to dissuade you from one over the other.
1. Cut
Its brilliance recognizes a diamond—the light that it reflects off itself or the ‘radiance’ of the stone. There are over ten different variations of diamond cuts available, and they are ranked on a scale (based on brilliance) from excellent to low.
The most popular diamond cut would be a round cut or an oval one. Given how the cut varies from one designer to the next, and therefore there isn’t much of a price difference between any two cuts, gemologists would suggest that you always go for a cut that’s been graded as ‘excellent.’
2. Color
Contrary to popular belief, diamonds are not always colorless. They could be, but based on the color scale going D through Z. D is a colorless diamond and Z is a diamond with the most yellowish hue. Nowadays, you might even find diamonds colored in pink, green, and other colors.
Colorless diamonds are generally more expensive than the ones with yellowish hues. It is important to remember that the price difference is based solely on what consumers want and don’t impact the diamond’s overall quality at all.
3. Clarity
Natural imperfections on a diamond are referred to as inclusions, and this C is all about the ‘perfection’ of the diamond. You might have seen jewelers examining diamonds with eyepieces to estimate their worth. That’s because these inclusions are very rarely visible to the unaided eye. The scale goes from Flawless (FL) to Included 3 (I3).
Understandably, the price differs as you go down the scale. However, it’s important to remember that these ‘imperfections’ are barely (if ever) visible at all.
4. Carat
Carat refers to the actual weight of the diamond. One carat measures approximately 0.2 grams – the same weight as a paper clip. The larger the carat, the larger would be the diameter of the diamond. Alternatively, so would be the price.
The 4 C’s are international guidelines that have been adopted by the mainstream to become more aware when making larger purchases for diamonds. It helps the average consumer understand the difference between the various kinds of diamonds, their price points, and each factor’s significance.