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Jewelry Education

About 4 C's ... Every diamond is a miracle of time and place and chance. Like snowflakes, no two are exactly alike.

You will be confronted with a dizzying array of choices when it comes to engagement rings. Have a price range in mind. Going in with fairly specific parameters will help your jeweler find the right engagement ring to fit your budget.

What kind of jewelry does she already wear?
Know her ring size
Are her preferences hard to pin down?
Know what diamond shape suits her

By now you have noticed her distinctive style in fashion and jewelry. Is she sporty and simple or does she prefer to go bold and blinged out. Perhaps, she is simply elegant and sophisticated. When she is wearing her favorite jewelry have you noticed if the metal is white or yellow? Whatever her particular style happens to be, share this with your jeweler as they are experts on translating her current style into the perfect bridal ring.

If she has taken you window shopping for rings, she may have already shared this important information with you and your jeweler. If not, don’t sweat. There are several covert ways to get the size right. You might consider using one of her rings as a guide. Maybe she has a discreet friend or relative who might know her size.

If you are still concerned, it is alright to present the ring first and size later. In fact, rings today are stocked in the most common sizes anywhere between size 6 and 7. Most jewelers can have the ring sized in fast fashion. Because of the delicate nature of the setting, it is always best to have the ring sized once instead of twice due to a sizing mistake.

If the answer is yes, the best answer is to choose a classic solitaire. Choosing a solitaire engagement ring gives her the joy of showing off her new diamond while shopping with you for the perfect setting.

Shape is sometimes confused with Cut, one of the four C’s. Cut refers to how well a diamond reflects and disperses light. A well cut diamond will reflect light and create a beautiful sparkling effect, called “scintillation”. Cut has long been known as the most important “C”, however, her taste in shape will be as equally important in making your decision on which diamond to purchase.

Consider the following when shopping. Has she been hinting about her “Dream Diamond” and what shape it is? Has she admired someone else’s Diamond?

If you’re still unsure, consider the classic shapes Round and Princess. These shapes are timeless and compliment most styles of engagement ring settings. A third classic, the Emerald cut has clean lines and is designed to show off high quality diamonds.

Modified versions of the Round and Princess are very popular right now and can be seen in the Radiant cut. This shape is popular in both a square and rectangle.

Looking for a large diamond? The Marquise, Oval and Pear shape diamonds while beautiful in any size and suited well for most settings, make a stunning statement in sizes 1 Carat and larger.

Last but not least are the Trillion and Heart shaped diamonds. These shapes can be difficult to work with, but set in the right setting are perfect for the lady with an artistic flare.

What Setting Makes Sense?

solitaire

A single stone. Still the most popular choice in engagement rings. The head secures the diamond. Prongs allow the diamond to catch the most light. A four-prong-setting shows more of the diamond, but a six-prong setting is often more secure.

sidestone

Diamonds or other gemstones, flank the main stone for additional sparkle or color. Popular sidestone settings include 'channel', which protects stones by keeping them flush, and 'bar-channel', which allows more light to enter the sidestones.

three stone

Three Stone - One diamond for the past, one for the present, and one for the future. Typically, the center diamond is larger than the two side stones.

pavee

Pavee (pah-vey) - The main stone is surrounded by tiny diamonds to add sparkle and the illusion of greater size.

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