If you conjure up an image of a ring in your mind, odds are there’s a diamond on it. This is because diamonds are the world’s most popular gemstone – set in every type of jewellery imaginable and most commonly found adorning our fingers. The diamond comes in a variety of cuts, colours, sizes and settings to suit nearly any man or woman’s taste. But where do you start?
Well, first, you have to choose your diamond. Consider your budget before anything else – the size and quality of the diamond ring you can get will be dictated by the amount you’re able (or willing) to spend. Once you’ve determined your budget, you’ll have to decide whether to focus on the size or quality of the stone. If you choose to focus on the size of stone, you’ll be primarily concerned with it’s karat weight. The larger the stone, the heavier it is and the more it will cost.
If you focus on the quality of the stone, your primary focus becomes the colour – the less colour the diamond has, the higher it’s quality. Many people get confused at this point, because coloured diamonds are often more expensive – this is because a clear, blue diamond is a rare thing indeed. Coloured diamonds are created when various minerals are present where the diamond is growing in the earth – most commonly, the colour is yellowish and often seen as a defect.
Once you’ve chosen a stone, you can move on to finding a local or online jeweller to build a ring that meets your needs. Alternatively, you can purchase one of the countless ready-made diamond rings on offer in the traditional or online jewellery shops. If shopping online, be sure to have a trusted appraiser in your local area verify the quality of the stone you receive – and get a written statement of quality from the vendor, in addition to a firm statement regarding their return/refund policy.
© Jewellery Box.org.uk 2006.
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