Finding that forever ring for that forever girl can be a challenge, but the look on her face when she opens the box will be well worth the time spent. Look for hints about the style, band color, and stone cut she prefers. Take her shopping and look for preferences, or ask her mother or best friend for advice. Look for a ring that's going to last a lifetime, or maybe even be a treasure to be passed down in the family.
Part of the challenge is choosing the band color. Engagement rings are available in white gold, platinum, silver, and yellow gold. Gold bands consist of 14 karat, 18 karat, or 24 karat gold. If Ms. Right prefers a white or silver-colored band, choose a platinum, sterling silver, or white gold band. The price of the ring will depend, in part, on the amount of gold in the band, so decide on a budget before shopping for 14 karat or 24 karat gold bands.
Once the band color has been decided, it's time to choose a diamond engagement ring style that she will love. Choose from an elegant, classic look, or opt for the latest style that's sure to please. Diamond solitaire engagement rings, for example, never go out of fashion. These classic standbys are also an excellent choice for fiancés determined to find the largest, showiest stone they can afford. Of course, this style also works well for smaller, high-quality stones as well.
For a touch of color and extra flair, choose diamond solitaire rings with accent stones. These engagement rings contain a main stone, usually a diamond, with a setting accented by other, smaller gemstones, including other diamonds, or possibly rubies or emeralds. When purchasing a diamond engagement ring that includes accent stones, be aware that the total carat weight of the ring will describe the weight of all of the gemstones used in the ring, rather than only the central diamond.
Another popular, trendy alternative is a diamond three-stone ring. These rings, which are sometimes also referred to as trilogy rings, are designed to represent the past, present, and future of a love relationship. Usually, diamond three-stone engagement rings feature three matching diamonds with a round cut.
One other popular choice is a complete wedding set. For those who are sure they've made the right decision, a wedding set contains an engagement ring and matching wedding ring that fit together. Some of these sets are often referred to as wraps, because the wedding band wraps around to fit around the engagement ring. Often, the engagement ring in these matching bridal sets is a diamond solitaire engagement ring, but sometimes other combinations of stones are sold too. If the bride-to-be appreciates charming antique jewelry, consider a vintage engagement ring with a matching wedding band.
After deciding on the band color and stone layout, determine which diamond cut and shape will best adorn her hand for decades to come. Some diamond engagement rings are incredibly expensive, so don't purchase something completely unaffordable, and remember, a big rock doesn't necessarily mean a high quality diamond. The diamond industry grades stones according to the four 'C's, so take these characteristics into account when choosing her diamond: cut, clarity, color, and carat.
Carat weight refers to the weight of the diamond. Larger diamonds cost more than smaller diamonds. Often, a diamond that weighs 0.75 carats will cost much, much less than a diamond that weighs 1.0 carats, so consider this when buying. Remember, too, if multiple stones are used in the ring, the carat weight of the ring will describe all of the stones, not just the diamond, so listen carefully and ask what the carat weight of the main stone is as well as that of all the stones combined.
The clarity of the diamond is also very important. The majority of stones contain microscopically small flaws. These flaws are known as inclusions, and affect the clarity of the stone. The diamond industry grades diamonds according to a letter scale. A perfect diamond is graded as flawless, or FI. Stones that have major flaws clearly visible even without a microscope would be graded as I1, I2, or I3. Most people can afford stones somewhere in the middle of this grading scale; a perfectly flawless diamond is almost priceless, and very flawed diamonds are fairly inexpensive.
Diamond cut and shape is perhaps one of the most important factors in choosing the engagement ring. Will she want a princess cut, a pear cut, or a round cut? The cut chosen will determine the diamond's ability to reflect light, as well as its brilliance. The shape and facet arrangement of the light will determine the cutting style. Other favorite styles include marquise, heart, oval, and emerald cuts.
Color is the last important consideration in choosing the right stone. Some people think that diamonds are entirely white, but all diamonds actually contain trace amounts of yellow coloring. Color is also graded on a scale. Colorless diamonds are rated D, E, or F, and are usually the most valuable, and nearly colorless diamonds, which may be rated G, H, I, or J, are the next most valuable. Some fancy diamonds, however, which are popularly worn by many celebrities, may be dark pink, black, yellow, green, or blue. These are also referred to a Z+ diamonds, and can be even more expensive than a colorless diamond that weighs exactly the same.
Some diamonds are certified. This means that they have been issued grading certificates. A certified gemologist has examined the cut, clarity, color, and carat weight of the diamond and certified this information to be accurate. Don't rely on this information unless it has been issued by a reputable lab. For example, the Gemological Institute of America is widely considered to be the gold standard for diamond grading worldwide. The International Gemological Institute, the American Gem Society Laboratories, and the European Gemological Laboratory USA are also solidly reputable.
Finding the perfect engagement ring will take some hard work. Take her shopping to get an idea of what she likes, or ask her mom or best friend. Spend as much time as necessary finding the right one - hopefully it will be the only one you will ever need to buy!