Buying an engagement or wedding ring is expensive and tricky business so you want to make sure you do it perfectly! You might have  heard of the 4C’s – cut, clarity, colour and carat – of buying diamonds but even armed with the correct information it’s all still very confusing unless you’re a diamond expert.

 

The first thing you have to do is know what your lady likes, you might have to be a bit sneaky but women often drop loads of clues when it comes to getting the perfect ring! So just listen to her it might be easier than you think. It’s also important to know her ring size, as getting the wrong sized ring will definitely ruin the moment. So make sure you take one of her rings  (for the same finger) with you to get the right size.

 

Yair Shimansky, jewellery designer at Shimansky Collection, shares his expert knowledge and introduces you to the 7C’s of buying the ideal diamond.

 

Cut

If your partner values the brilliance, fire and scintillating quality of diamonds then the cut should be the main priority for you. A well cut diamond radiates a lot more brilliance, whilst a poorly cut one will look dull and lifeless. Consider a round brilliant cut or a round Super Ideal Cut diamond. The cut also denotes the shape of diamond can be fashioned into. But don’t forget to find out just what your lady has her heart set on, the most popular being,  round, princess, heart, cushion or marquise and yes there are more shapes to choose from.

 

Clarity

Buying your partner a diamond with visible blemishes is a recipe for disaster and not recommended. Whilst you may not be able to afford a flawless diamond, various other diamonds with inclusions that do not necessarily compromise its beauty can be considered. Remember a blemish or inclusion in the middle or top of a diamond will compromise the dispersion of light, making the diamond less brilliant and valuable.

 

Colour

Women are very particular about colour; make sure you know what colour diamond she wants. You can choose one of the “fancy” colours such as intense shades of blue, green, yellow, orange, pink and red as she might like that more!. Warmer hued diamonds dazzle when set in yellow gold whilst cold white colours are a perfect fit when set in white gold or platinum.

 

Carat

If she is set on having a big stone, then the greater carat weight, the better and more expensive! One carat is equivalent to 0.2 grams. If your budget can’t fit the size she likes, then cut and mounting can make a diamond appear larger (or smaller) than its actual weight. Do some comparative window-shopping to find the right diamond setting to optimize the beauty of the stone.

 

Certification

Check if the diamond you want to buy has a certificate from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and a light performance report certification. A diamond certificate describes the quality of a particular diamond and lists all of its specifications. Don’t confuse certificates with an appraisal, as that only places a value on the diamond.

 

Cost

It is wise to choose a diamond that offers the best feature valued by your partner but still boasts a good mixture of the first 4C’s. Whichever feature is more important to her will give you an idea of the cost. Weigh that against your budget and if you cannot find a diamond against those specs that you can afford, consider going a grade lower or waiting till you have saved up enough for the ideal diamond.

 

Conflict -Free

Your partner may not like the idea of wearing a diamond that may be linked to Conflict diamonds. Do some research and find out the source of origin of your diamond and that it has a 100% conflict-free assurance behind it.

 

For information on how to buy diamonds or for a Shimansky diamond tour visit:  www.shimansky.com

All rings supplied by Shimansky