When choosing an engagement ring there are a number of things to consider.  Namely the four c’s, gemstone shape, style and the type of precious metal.

The Four C’s

The Four C’s are Carat, Cut, Colour and Clarity.

Carat is the unit of measure used to weigh diamonds.  Although people often assume the more Carats the better the diamond that is not always the case.  Smaller stones can actually be more valuable than larger stones if it rates more highly in terms of Cut, Colour and Clarity.

Cut refers to the angels, shapes and proportions of the stone.  A great cut will optimise the natural brilliance within the stone due to the way facets of the cut reflect and refracts the light.  The cut of a diamond should not be confused with it’s shape.

Colour scales are used to judge the colour of the diamond.  The most commonly used scale is the GIA scale which grades diamonds from D for colourless to Z for diamonds with a slight yellow or brownish hue.  Diamonds rating a D on the colour scale are the rarest and therefore the most valuable.

The Clarity of a diamond is measured according to the GIA Clarity scale.  The scale ranges from flawless to I3 which means that there are inclusions or flaws which are visible to the naked eye.  A flawless diamond is very rare and therefore very expensive.

Gemstone Shape

There are a number of different shapes available on the market today.  Diamonds which are not cut into a round brilliant shape are known as fancy cuts (i.e. baguette, princess, heart and pear).  Often the fancy cut diamonds are not held the same strict standards or guidelines as the round brilliant cuts given there are less specific mathematical guidelines for these cuts.

Style

The styles available in rings today appears endless.  The shape of the metal work, the centre stone setting and whether there are any side stones can change the style of a ring dramatically.

A number of different centre stone settings are available.  They range from:

• prong  – which lets the centre stone become the focal point
• cathedral – which is similar to prong but with more pronounced prongs to protect the gemstone
• bezel – where the stone is framed in metal
• tension – where the stone is held by pressure and gives the illusion it’s floating in space

There are also a number of different settings available for side stones.  These include:

• Flush – where stones are secured in the tiny holes in the metal
• Bar – where stones are separated by a bar which leaves the stone open to light
• Channel – where stones are set in a channel of the metal
• Pave – where tiny metal beads hold the stones in place

Type of precious metal

Because engagement rings are a special and sentimental piece of jewellery they are usually made out of the most precious metals.  Precious metals are rated by a variety of features.  These include rarity, purity and colour.

Engagement rings are typically available in gold and platinum.  Gold also has different colour variations available including rose gold, yellow gold and white gold.

Platinum is 30 times more rare than gold and therefore the most precious of metals used in engagement rings.  Platinum is the only white metal that maintains it’s whiteness over time.  While selecting a white gold ring might appear the cheaper option given it looks similar to platinum it will need to be replated every few years to maintain it’s whiteness.

This article contains useful information about selecting an engagement ring.