This may be of help-
Criteria to Use in Shopping for a Diamond Ring
Financial experts recommend that couples spend not more than three
weeks' salary, or roughly 6 percent of annual income. On the other
hand, the jewelry experts recommend inve Couples with limited finances
at the time of their engagement can certainly reset the stone or add
extra stones at a later date.
The diamond industry has identified the four C's -- color, clarity,
cut, and carat weight -- to assist consumers in making educated
purchases.
The majority of diamonds do appear colorless, though there are many
that contain a hint of color. The Gemological Institute of America has
a letter grading system for classifying the color of diamonds,
starting with D for the slightest blue tone and spanning the alphabet
to Z for the yellow stones.
The clarity of a diamond refers to the number of internal flaws
contained in the stone. Diamonds, the crystallized form of carbon, may
contain some impurities that are often visible only by a jeweler's
microscope. The fewer number of flaws increases the value of the
stone.
The cut of a diamond refers to the design of facets, including the
round solitaire, marquise, oval, pear, and emerald. High quality
diamonds reflect more light and appear to have a greater sparkle. The
marquise cut refers to a stone that is pointed at both ends. An
emerald cut refers to a stone that is square or rectangular.
The karat of a stone is a unit of weight for precious gems equal to
200 milligrams. There are 100 points to a karat. The average size of
an engagement ring today is about .75 karat. |