We know how important it is to find just the right diamond to meet your budget and specifications. You can spend quite a bit of time reading up on all the diamond lingo and searching the Internet before coming across the perfect stone. To help you make your decision and save a little time, we’ve come up with a few things to keep in mind and posted some great tips below. Still have questions? Drop us a note.
Determine the Budget
Set a realistic budget before beginning. Once the budget has been set, the goal is to find the best diamond that meets the minimum four C requirements established, while staying within the budget. The center diamond typically accounts for the largest portion of the total budget. However, it also important to consider the cost of the semi-mounting (the ring the diamond will be set into) and a 7.00% sales tax for shipments made within the state of Florida.
Determine the Minimum Diamond Requirements
Becoming familiar with the Four Cs can help determine the optimal combination of cut, color, carat weight, and clarity for the perfect diamond ring within a budget. It is highly recommended that the shape of the desired diamond be established before any other diamond specifications. The most popular shape is a Round Brilliant, but it is important to consider that the Round Brilliant diamond is also the most expensive per carat. When you know the shape and the minimum specifications on the four Cs, the diamond search can begin.
To fine-tune the diamond search, it is important to carefully consider the diamond cut. Some experts believe that cut is the most important factor in the Four Cs. We believe color and clarity are more important, because some older style cuts, such as Old Miner cuts, can have beautiful brilliance, but with today’s standards the cut may only be considered poor.
Determine the Style
Does the person you are buying for have simple or elaborate taste? Do they prefer white or yellow metal in the jewelry? Knowing the style of the person you are buying for makes the jewelry search much more successful.
If they prefer yellow gold, it is possible that the stone purchased can be of a darker color (I-K). The yellow gold from the metal of the jewelry will actually compliment the darker colored stone.
If they prefer white metal and the budget is tight, consider white gold over platinum. Aesthetically, the metals look the same; they just wear differently over time. The white gold will require rhodium plating once the ring becomes yellowish-looking in color. The platinum ring will simply dull over time, but the color will remain the same. Upkeep for the platinum ring will require polishing in order to restore the shiny look.
Maximize the Budget
If size matters, there are a few insider recommendations you can follow. Consider a stone with a larger table, that will provide a larger diameter. The cut may not be ideal, but the diamond will look bigger. Another option is to search for a diamond that is slightly less than the next carat weight desired. Or, consider choosing a three-stone ring that has smaller stones, but the area covering the finger will appear much larger.