Buying a diamond ring, whether for a loved one or for oneself, could be pretty difficult if one knows nothing about this precious gem. It is because diamonds come in various shapes, color, clarity and sizes that influence the buying price of the gem. When choosing a diamond ring from an array of designs, one could be at a loss and at the mercy of the salesman who wants to see the day with a good sale. However, what he may be offering at one time or another may not be what you really want, but which you cannot define exactly. So, you need to consider a lot of things first before buying to get what you really want and expect. You can also go to an accommodating jeweler for guidance, but mostly it has to be YOUR choice. A background on the basic characteristics to look for in diamonds could be very helpful in getting what one really wants. Here are some steps to take on becoming an effective buyer of diamonds.



Before the First Step

Diamonds can be man’s best friend when it comes to expressing their love, appreciation and affection towards the one they love. It also is the best way of pleasing oneself. These are generally the reasons why people buy diamonds and not because they consider it an investment. Ultimately, one wants to please the other person or oneself that naturally they want to get the best diamond that money can buy.



The First Step

In choosing diamonds, you must first start with a budget. This will determine what kind of diamond ring you will buy. Once the limit is set, you can browse on the Internet for what are available within you budget. In looking at prices, it pays to remember that the biggest chunk of the budget will pay for the stone, so it is important to know one’s preference as to its setting to know exactly how much you actually have left for the diamond. Knowing what you really want will show the jeweler that you really know exactly what you are looking for.



The Second Step

The cut, color, clarity and carat are the four important elements that play in determining the value of the diamond. These are the 4 C’s to remember. A basic knowledge of how diamonds are valued will make it easy to select one’s diamond. First select what is the most important for you among the 4 C’s, and list them in descending order. To better understand these 4 C’s, you have to know what they are and their contribution to making the diamond precious. First, the cut. The cut means the shape of the diamond as well as the manner by which it is cut. The cut gives off the fire of rainbow colors that flashes inside the stone as well as its brilliance. The cut varies from the classic round, the “new” classic, the square shape, known also as the “princess” cut, or the elegant European classic like the emerald shape or the asscher cut or other fancy shapes.

Second is the color. The diamond’s color is very influential in determining the price of the diamond. The lesser the color the higher the price of the diamond which means that the colorless diamond demands the highest price. Its color ranges from colorless to light yellow which is the least expensive. Ordinarily though, the human eye cannot tell the difference between close grades. In view of the ranges in color and its corresponding values, the setting of the ring has to be properly selected. A setting could be of white metal such as platinum or white gold which goes well with diamonds, but a setting of yellow gold ring needs careful attention. A yellow gold ring may not go well with a colorless or near colorless scale because the yellow color of the setting will be reflected to some extent in the diamond making the diamond look darker than it really is. The extra cost you spend for a colorless diamond will be lost when it is set in a yellow gold ring. If you really prefer the yellow gold ring, the diamond with a scale of faint yellow and below will look great in the ring.

Third is clarity. Clarity is the cleanness or clearness of the diamond. Generally, blemishes in diamonds like crystals, feathers or clouds which also affects the brilliance of the stone cannot be seen by the naked eye. But, you can try checking its clarity as it is one important factor that dictates a diamond’s price. You could examine it at arms length like you usually do when admiring a ring on your finger, if you can’t see anything, then you can choose a clarity of slightly included 3 (SI3) to included 1 (I1) where there are inclusions of tiny crystals, feathers or clouds. You may also look at its clarity at elbow range (approx. 12 inches away) and if you see no flaws, then you could go with an SI2 to SI3 clarity range. At nose length and if it’s clear then you can go with SI1 clarity or a very good SI2. If under a jeweler’s loupe, you do not want to see anything under magnification then you should go with VS2 clarity or a very good SI1 clarity. Actually, there are 11 clarity scales of a diamond, these are from the highest to the lowest – flawless (F), internally flawless (IF), very very slightly included (VVS) 1 and 2, very slightly included (VS) 1 and 2, slightly included (SI)1 and 2, and included (I) 1, 2 and 3. Remember that the human eye can barely, if at all, see the difference between the higher clarities.



The Last Step

After deciding on the shape, color and clarity of your diamond, and having decided on your budget, the next thing to consider is the carat or weight of the diamond. By this time, it is easy to select your diamond especially since you already know what color and clarity you want. If for example you want a round diamond that has an H color and SI1 clarity and your budget is $5,000 on the diamond only, you can now ask the jeweler for the largest H/SI1 round diamond and he will immediately know what to select. You need to remember, however, that when looking for a diamond that is of high clarity you should get only diamonds that are certified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The GIA's grading is recognized by all diamond experts and jewelers throughout the jewelry industry as the most accurate and unbiased opinion when it comes to grading diamonds, especially if the diamonds are over 1 carat in size.



Alternative option in order to get what you want

If despite all the price quotes you still do not like the sizes that are offered, you have an alternative option by getting a clarity enhanced diamond. With clarity enhanced diamonds you can be able to get a 30% to 40% larger diamond for the same price as a non-enhanced diamond. Or, if you like the size of a non-enhanced diamond you will be able to get the same size for 30% to 40% less cost in an enhanced diamond.



A word about Ring Sizing

Surprising someone with a diamond ring requires knowledge of the other person’s ring size. If this is not available and asking such person about his or her ring size may spoil the surprise, the best that one can do is any of the following:

-- Ask her/his mom or sisters if one thinks they can keep a secret.
-- Pay attention to the ring(s) she/he usually wears and when she/he takes it off trace it on a piece of paper. Make sure to trace the inside of the ring not the outside.
-- If she/he doesn’t wear rings, one simply takes a piece of string and wrap it around her/his ring finger when she’s/he’s asleep. Mark the length of the string without squeezing it too tight. -- Measure the length on a typical ruler in either inches or centimeters. Give the jeweler this measurement and they’ll convert it to the proper ring size.
-- Always keep in mind that the ring has to make it past the knuckle first.


But, in spite of the above the ring still does not fit exactly right, it can always be resized. The charge of most jewelers is between $25 and $75 depending on how many sizes up or down is necessary.