THE FOUR C's:
An engagement diamond may be the biggest purchase you've ever made. And with the right information, you'll be able to spend your budget on the diamond qualities that are most important to you. Read on and I'll provide you with a thorough understanding of diamond quality.
She is going to wear this ring for the rest of her life, so you want to ensure she likes it. Whether you want your proposal to be a surprise, or you want her to be involved in the decision, here are the decisions you'll need to make: Settings, Cuts, and Prices.
CUT: The cut of a diamond has the biggest affect on its sparkle, also called brilliance. Even with perfect color and clarity, a poor cut can make a diamond look dull.
COLOR: Colorless diamonds are most highly valued and are priced accordingly. For the best value, choose a colorless or near-colorless diamond that has no noticeable color, grades D-J.
CLARITY: Diamonds free from internal flaws, or inclusions, are very rare and highly-valued. The best value in diamond clarity is a diamond with no inclusions visible to the unaided eye.
CARAT WEIGHT: Since larger diamonds are more rare than smaller diamonds, diamond value rises exponentially with carat weight. With a clear understanding of cut, color, and clarity, you can balance the overall diamond quality with the size of your diamond.
Meet Lisa!
....everyone's favorite Internet girl!
My jewelry career started 12 years ago when I got my first retail jewelry store job. I have always been interested in the way fashion trends change...how they come about, how long they last, and why they are important to us. Jewelry and fashion are big business and staying on the top of upcoming trends is the number one way to stay fresh in your customer's minds, grab your market share, and beat your competition.Analyzing past trends and predicting new ones is a painstaking task involving staying on top of retail reports, studying trade show statistics, and being aware of the cultural changes both in the media and in our everyday activities. I find this to be a challenging, yet most rewarding endeavor. I know alot of retailers and consumers alike find this to be very valuable information and I am glad that I can do my part.
Please visit my Jewelry Trends 2008 and Jewelry Color Trends Summer 2008 lenses for the best trend predictions and updates!
And check out these lenses:
Sweet Honeymoons
Castle Honeymoons
KickStartCart
Let's Start With Settings
Choose Between 18 kt. Gold or Platinum.
If you're unsure what ring metal to choose, consider the differences between 18k gold and platinum:
Enduring.
Platinum is the strongest, most pure metal. It will last a lifetime. It is more expensive than gold.
Platinum is rarer than gold. Platinum jewelry is composed of 90-95% pure platinum.
*Strongest jewelry metal
*Resistant to damage
*Won't wear away
*Develops a satin finish
*Difficult to polish, repair
*Won't tarnish
Classic.
18k gold is the most common engagement ring setting. It is less expensive than platinum.
18k gold is composed of 75% gold and 25% metal alloys to give it strength.
*Softer, malleable metal
*More easily damaged
*Will wear away over years
*Easy to polish, repair
*Won't tarnish
A setting with diamonds or gemstones adds additional sparkle or color. Channel settings protect sidestones from abrasions by keeping them flush. The bar-channel setting allows more light to enter the sidestones, and creates a scalloped edge of brilliance.
If you'd like a wedding band to wear on the same finger with your engagement ring, consider settings with wedding bands designed to match.
Three-Stone Settings-
For a classic ring that's truly unique and created by you, choose all three diamonds to be set in a three-stone setting. The three-stone ring has one diamond for the past, one for the present, and one for the future.
Let's Look At Cuts...
To start, find out what shape she likes. Popular diamond shapes include round, oval, princess-cut, emerald-cut, Asscher-cut, marquise-cut, radiant-cut, pear-shaped, and heart-shaped diamonds. The majority of diamond engagement rings today are set with a round diamond. And most of the remaining rings are set with princess-cut diamonds.
Cut refers not to the shape of the diamond but to the proportions to which the stone was polished. This is a touchy subject because it is difficult to measure "brilliance" in a diamond. However, there are several theories behind cutting the "ideal" diamond such as Tolkowski. The AGS (American Gem Society), has come up with a "cut grade" with all their diamond reports. Based upon this theory and others we can conclude that the best cut diamonds fall into a range. AGS grades their perfectly cut diamonds 0 on a scale of 0 - 10. AGS ideal 0 cuts are extremely rare and consequently will cost much more. Very fine cut diamonds, AGS 1 and 2 grades, are also rare but also exhibit extreme brilliance and provide a great value.
IDEAL CUTS:
Depth % 59% - 62.5%
Table % 52.4% - 57.5%
Girdle Thickness Thin to Medium
Culet Size None - Medium
Polish Excellent Excellent
Symmetry Excellent Excellent
Florescence None - Faint
New Del.icio.us bookmarks
Let's Look at Price.....
How Much Should I Spend?
This is an emotional event, and a purchase that will last a lifetime. The two-months salary convention is a common starting point, but we believe that regardless of the amount you budget, your most important considerations should be quality and value.
The best way to know prices for the specific Diamond you are looking for is to shop around for a Certified Diamond of a quality range you desire, within your budget.
Don't pay a premium for one of the C's only to turn around and get low quality in another C. While there are exceptions to this rule, for example if you are getting a great price, why would you pay a premium for a branded ideal cut diamond and then get a low color or clarity? Save some money on the brand name and upgrade the other C(s).
There are many conflicting assumptions about engagement ring prices: that a higher price means a better ring, more commitment, and a stronger relationship, for example, yet those statements have nothing to do with the ring's actual price. As the costs of engagement rings continue to soar, couples must determine exactly what type of ring they are interested in and how such a purchase fits in their budget before hitting the jewelry case.
Average Engagement Ring Prices:
Today's average engagement ring cost ranges from $3,500 to $4,000. But what does this mean to a soon-to-be-engaged couple? In truth, average numbers shouldn't mean much at all. For every ring that costs thousands of dollars, another happy couple chooses a ring that costs only a few hundred. The price should be a reflection of what the couple can afford and how much they are comfortable investing in this symbol of their relationship, keeping in mind that such sentimental objects are rarely resold with the intention of making a profit. To choose a ring based solely on a price tag could indicate a lack of depth in the relationship, and the couple may want to reconsider their commitment to marry if the glitz and glamour of the impending event is more valuable than the vows to be exchanged.
Diamond Rings!
The World's Most Powerful Shopping Cart System!
KickStartCart.com
Do you have a product or service you would like to sell online? Do you want to tap into the BILLION DOLLAR MARKET of selling your goods and services online?Well, you've come to the right place! We have ALL THE TOOLS you need to succeed online!
KickStartCart.com integrates everything you need to do business professionally over the Internet - an Internet merchant account, a payment gateway, a secure online order form, Affiliate tracking, ad tracking, detailed reporting, and much, much more. It's perfect for selling shippable products or downloadable goods or online services on a one-time or recurring basis.
Click here to get started!
"I'm doing $15,000 - $25,000.00 per month in e-book sales. The Upsell Module that I couldn't find anywhere else is responsible for at least 30% of this.
Jeff Mayer, SucceedinginBusiness.com
Instant Risk-Free ... 30-Day Test Drive!
In just a few minutes from now, you can be ready for business!
Click here to get started!
Affordable and Powerful. Click Here to try the World's Smartest Shopping Cart system.
My Sister Lenses
-
European Castle Honeymoons!
-
Did you ever imagine you were a Princess? And that your Knight in Shining Armor would come along, sweep you off your feet, and ride off to his elegant and breathtaking castle deep in the beautiful European Highlands? And that he would take your...
-
Jewelry Trends 2008
-
This lens is a place to get together and discuss jewelry, retailing, trends, imports, and anything about jewels! As the season cools down, the jewelry colors are heating up!! We all expect to see warm tones in jewelry designs as the...
-
Creating Your Reality
-
Have you ever woken up feeling a certain way about the day......perhaps your stressed and feeling very anxious and negative. Your having "one of those days" and your neighbor or friend wakes up and thinks to himself, "this is the best...
-
Jewelry Color Trends Spring 2008
-
Get set to heat things up! The jewelry color trends for spring 2008 are going to be HOT, HOT, HOT!! With the changing seasons we look to the coming color palates to see what is new and exciting for jewelry trends. Well there is good news and then th...
-
The Relationship Artist
-
I have been fortunate to have had many great relationships! Even with all it's ups and downs, there is nothing more intriguing than the attraction between a man and woman. It is a delicate mix of science, chemistry, emotions, culture, rituals, and so...
Proposal Tips!
Your reading this lens for one main purpose (and I think I know what it is!)
Tips for the Perfect Wedding Proposal - Asking Your Girlfriend to Marry You:Thinking about proposing? Before you get down on one knee, read these proposal tips!
Do:
Talk about Marriage:
Before you propose, talk about the possibility of getting married. Make sure it's something that you both want, and agree on major issues such as children.
Make it a Surprise:
Even though you have discussed marriage, the proposal itself should still be a surprise. Find a moment and a way that she won't be suspecting.
Find The Right Engagement Ring:
Since wearing an engagement ring is a lifetime committment, make sure it's the right style. You might find an opportunity to window shop for rings when you are walking past a store, or bring it up in converstion. You can also ask her mother or best friend to help choose the ring. Read this lens about engagement rings before shopping.
Know if She Wants to Pick the Engagement Ring:
Most brides want their proposal to include an engagement ring, but others are very particular about their jewelry, and want to be part of the buying/designing process.
Talk to Her Parents:
We've come a long way from when women were property who needed their father's permission, yet, there is still something nice and respectful about asking for the parents' blessing.
Pick a Personal Spot:
Think about your favorite romantic places -- choose a meaningful spot to pop the question. It could be as simple as in your living room, or as complicated as whisking her away for a weekend in Paris. Just don't ask her in a supermarket aisle!
Be Creative:
Incorporate your personality, favorite things, foods etc. into the proposal. Make it memorable rather than a cookie cutter proposal.
Drop to One Knee:
It's not 1950, but there is something so charming and romantic about a man on one knee asking the love of his life to marry him. Even if you're not a traditional guy, it will add to the seriousness and lovingness of the proposal.
Tell Her Why You Want to Marry Her:
Don't just utter those 4 little words, tell her why she's the one for you, what marriage means to you, and what your hopes for the future are. You might say something like "My life has never and could never be the same after I met you. You've made me more joyful, more stable, and more inspired!"
Great Stuff on Amazon
Countdown to Your Perfect Wedding: From Engagement Ring to Honeymoon, a Week-by-Week Guide to Planning the Happiest Day of Your Life
Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 07/26/2008)
Engagement & Wedding Rings: The Definitive Buying Guide for People in Love
Amazon Price: $18.95 (as of 07/26/2008)
50 Activities for Employee Engagement
Amazon Price: $104.96 (as of 07/26/2008)
Edward Gorey 2009 Postcard Calendar
Amazon Price: $11.04 (as of 07/26/2008)
Great Stuff on eBay
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
Rock My Book!
|
eSector
When the diamond is loose it can be evaluated by yourself or a qualified independent diamond appraiser using the latest diamond evaluation and grading tools. The diamond can be inspected from every single angle to make certain that it is indeed of the quality and beauty that you desire. This is something that cannot be done with the same degree of effectiveness once the diamond has been set in a ring. Posted June 29, 2008 |
|
hagiga
You should check out loose diamond prices to make sure you get the best value for your money. This site gives you prices from all the big online diamond and jewelry vendors."> Posted June 02, 2008 |
|
DazzlingDesigns
Super info! All your lens deserve 5-Stars! Please feel free to stop by my Unique Handmade Jewelry Lens. Posted March 28, 2008 |
|
EverythingMouse
Great lens which explains things really well. Thanks! Posted March 04, 2008 |
|
LeslieBrenner
Rated your lens! Keep up the good work. Posted January 31, 2008 |
Lisa on the Web!
- Jewelry Trends 2008
- Let Lisa Jesse show you all the great jewelry and fashion trends for the upcoming year!
- Sweet Honeymoons!
- Great honeymoon tips, ideas, advice, and links!
- Spicy Sun Dips and Rubs
- Get a taste of the Islands with Spicy Sun's line of dips, rubs and cocoas!
- Create Your Reality
- Turn your life around with just a thought! Colin will show you how!
- The Relationship Artist!
- Colin Martin says: "No More Broken Hearts!"
Visit this great site to find out how.... - World's Greatest Eulogies
- Tom Antion's famous "Instant Eulogies" ebook will put your stress to rest!
