Getting your hands on the perfect engagement rings at affordable prices

Shopping for an engagement ring for their loved ones is a major expense which most people are more than happy to bear. However, an engagement involves various other expenses as well and buying an engagement ring encrusted with diamonds can be an expensive proposition for many. It is, however, possible to find an impressive engagement ring if you’re armed with a few basic facts about diamond engagement rings.

Everyone has heard about the 4Cs of diamonds: the holy grail of the diamond world. For the uninitiated, the 4 Cs refer to color, carat, clarity and cut. These factors can be quite perplexing for most people but a brief understanding of them is necessary to make an informed purchase. The following sections will explain these terms in layman’s terms to give you a general idea about them and help you find the perfect engagement rings.

· Color: Loose Diamonds are normally available in a host of colors ranging around pale yellow. This range of colors is referred to as the normal color range of diamonds. Diamonds are also available in other colors such as brown or dark yellow, but diamonds with these colors are very rare and hence extremely expensive. There are also diamonds that appear to be completely devoid of any colors and appear as bright white in color to an observer. Such diamonds are of the highest purity. The complete range of colors found in diamonds is specified on a scale of D to Z with D being colorless and Z referring to diamonds with pale yellow color. Diamonds in the color range of F to I are most common while there are a few diamonds that are rated above Z in the color range. Such diamonds are very rare and expensive and are called fancy colored diamonds.

· Carat: The carat rating of a diamond refers to its weight with one carat being equal to 200 milligrams. This method of representing the weight of a diamond is quite old and originally was intended to measure the weight of a diamond vis a vis that of the seed of a carob.

· Clarity: Loose Diamonds occur naturally in nature and therefore are not always free of deformities or flaws. In fact it is very rare to come across a diamond that is completely free of any flaws. The clarity rating of a diamond is used to rate the stone on the basis of its inherent flaws. The scale used for such a rating starts with FL, which refers to a completely flawless stone, and terminates in I3 which means that the diamond is seriously flawed. The commonly found diamonds that are easily available in the market are likely to have a clarity rating of SI1 or SI2, which means slightly included. There are diamonds available which have such clarity ratings such as IF, which means internally flawless, but these stones are unlikely to fit into the budget of the average buyer

· Cut: An uncut and unpolished diamond is quite ordinary in its appearance. That is why the cut of a diamond is of such importance since it essentially brings out the brilliance of an otherwise ordinary looking stone.

Everything you ever needed to know about diamond engagement rings

You can actually buy diamonds without paying through your nose. It makes no sense at all to go in debt just for buying your engagement ring. A common trend among people is to buy a diamond ring that costs you as much as your two months’ salary, but where did this trend originate from, one might ask? This is nothing but propaganda spread by the various diamond companies who’re only interested in their profits and the health of their balance sheets.

People often make hasty decisions while buying Engagement rings because of the emotional value attached to them and feel guilty about buying a not so expensive ring. It has sort of become a fashion among young couples to make a statement with their rings where the size of the diamond reflects the amount of love between the couple. Bigger the diamond, greater the love and attachment between the two.

Are diamonds a good investment option?

This is a common misconception among most first time diamond buyers who think that diamonds are good investment option. This myth is further promoted by diamond companies and jewelers who’re always trying to push you into a diamond worth more than you can really afford. The value of Loose diamonds does not appreciate significantly over time like other jewelry items and stones. Also, it is always advisable to avoid combining investment decisions with emotional decisions. You’d never be able to convince yourself or your partner to sell off your engagement rings to pay off a bad debt or loan.

Figuring the right amount to spend on your diamond engagement rings

Before you venture out shopping to select a Loose diamond ring for your engagement, it is advisable that you first come up with an approximate figure for your budget and the maximum amount you’d be willing to spend. This decision should only be based on your financial health and various other factors such as emotional value, fear or a temptation to make good impression on your partner or your in-laws should be kept aside. The salesman at the diamond ring store will also try his best to sell you a ring worth much more than your real budget so you should steer clear of his pressure tactics.

Decide on whether to choose the ring with your partner or all by yourself

This is a tricky decision to make for all men. You can choose the ring yourself and then later surprise your partner. This way you get to see her reaction on seeing her Engagement ring for the first time. But there’s always the risk that she may not like your choice or has a preference for other stones. It’s a catch 22 situation and it can be very tricky getting out of it.

Multi – Tone Engagement Rings

Today’s would be brides are literally spoilt for choices as far as choosing the metal for their engagement rings is concerned, although yellow gold still retains its number one spot. One interesting trend that has Diamonds and is fast gaining popularity is to use a number of metals for the same ring to create a multi – tone effect. However, before opting for these multi – tone rings, there are a few things that all couples should keep in mind to help them make an informed decision.

Metals used for creating multi tone engagement rings

What metals you use for your Engagement ring more or less depends on your own preference. Different metals have different properties such as color, malleability etc. The most commonly used metals for engagement rings are:

· Yellow Gold: Traditionally the metal of choice and still widely used. Can be bought based on its carat value.

· White Gold: Used as an alternative to the traditional yellow gold and also available in different karat values similar to yellow gold. They get their unique white glitter from a coating of rhodium which tends to wear off after certain time. Hence these rings require higher degree of care and maintenance.

· Silver: Silver is mostly used by people who prefer a white colored ring but cannot afford white gold or platinum. Silver usually develops a thin coating on its surface after its use over a certain period. This coating gives the ring an antique look which is preferred by many, although some like to keep their silver rings shining like new and hence have to visit the jeweler periodically for getting them polished.

· Platinum: One of the strongest and sturdiest, platinum also happens to be one of the most expensive metals used for making Engagement rings. Platinum usually requires a lot less maintenance as compared to silver and its shine and glimmer remains intact for a number of years. In fact, owing to its sturdiness, some quantity of platinum is used in all rings to fasten the stone securely in its place.

· Titanium: Titanium is usually preferred for men’s rings and has gained popularity in recent years only. It is quite durable and also requires less maintenance.

· Sterling Silver: Sterling Silver is quite similar to normal silver in its appearance but it is useful for people with sensitive skins or with any type of metal allergies.

The Cost factor of a multi tone engagement ring

The cost of a multi tone Engagement ring that uses several metals usually depends on the kind of metals used, the stones and gems they are paired with and the overall intricacy of the design.

Heart shaped loose diamond engagement rings

An elegant option for anyone looking to buy an engagement ring is one encrusted with a diamond in the shape of a heart. These look classy and also symbolize the love and passion between the couple and signify a promise of undying love. A heart shaped diamond is a great way to express your feelings of love towards your better half.

Rings with a Loose diamond shaped heart are not very common and you are rarely likely to come across any. This is what makes these rings even more special as it gives a feeling of uniqueness and pride to the ladies. They are able to associate the love of their partners and their special memories with these rings. The shape of the diamond resembling a heart makes these rings all the more valuable since love and affection are feelings associated with the heart. So these rings are a great way to convey your feelings of love towards your partner.

Some things to watch out for

In order to shape the diamond to resemble a heart, the stone is given various cuts. While shopping for a heart shaped loose diamond, it’s important that you carefully examine the diamond for the cuts and how closely it resembles a heart. The whole beauty of the stone lies in how skillfully and expertly it has been cut. A close inspection of the stone is all it takes to determine its value and other features. An important thing to look out for is the symmetry of the lobes. The lobes have to be balanced in a symmetric manner otherwise the ring would have an untidy look.

Heart shaped loose diamond rings cost approximately the same as other diamond encrusted rings and are available in a wide variety based on their quality and hence price and can be selected by people based on their budget. The most famous in the category of heart shaped diamond rings are those with pink diamonds.

Heart shaped diamonds for lockets

Another favored option these days are lockets with heart shaped diamonds. These are not just given by lovers to express their feelings to their partners but are also gifted by people to their parents and grandparents with their pictures inside them. These lockets make for very thoughtful presents to your friends and family members as these not just look good and adorn the beauty of the recipient, but also act as a treasure trove of sweet memories.

Whether you go for a heart shaped loose diamond or a normal diamond is up to your own personal preference but do make sure to ascertain the quality of the stone while out shopping. Make sure you buy your diamonds from a reputed jeweler you can trust and if cost is not your primary concern, its best to opt for colorless diamonds.