It's an exciting time—it's time to buy an engagement ring! You're ready to pop the question, so you're eager to find the perfect diamond engagement ring.
Before you get started, it's a really good idea for you to become acquainted with all the diamond terms and concepts that come with buying a diamond engagement ring. (Btw, there's a lot of the them!)
So, here's a helpful list I've put together to help you navigate the engagement ring shopping waters and keep yourself from drowning...
Blemish – a clarity characteristic on the surface of a diamond
Branded diamonds and diamond cuts – A diamond with a patented or trademarked cutting style
Brilliant cut – a gem cutting style that has triangular and kite shaped facets spread out from the diamond’s center toward the girdle (see girdle below)
Brilliance – the brightness that stems from the center of the diamond
4Cs - Cut, Color, Clarity, Carat
Carat (ct) – standard industry term used for the weight of a diamond
Clarity – absence of internal inclusions and external blemishes
Color – absence of color in a diamond--the less color, the higher the grade, rated on a 23-point scale from “D” (colorless) to “Z” (light yellow or brown)
Cut – the proportions and finish of a polished diamond and a diamond’s cut grade is rated on a GIA Cut Scale that ranges from excellent to poor.(Cut is very important because it greatly influences a diamond's sparkle!)
Crown – the upper portion of the diamond above the girdle portion
Culet – a flat facet sometimes added to the bottom of the pavilion to protect the tip
Eye clean – a phrase used to describe a diamond with no blemishes or inclusions that can be seen with the naked eye
Face-up (or table up) – a position where the diamond’s crown and table are faced towards the observer
Face-down (or table down) – a position where the diamond’s pavilion is faced towards the observer
Facet – a smooth flat plane on the surface of a diamond that reflects light
Fancy cut– any diamond shape other than round
Fire – the flashes of colors in a polished diamond
Flawless - A diamond with no visible blemishes or inclusions when viewed under 10× magnification by a specially trained grader
Fluorescence – emission of visible light from a diamond when it is exposed to ultraviolet radiation
Girdle – the outer edge or outline of the diamond’s shape
Inclusion – a clarity characteristic totally enclosed inside a polished diamond
Loupe - a small, portable, hand-held magnifying lens used for examining diamonds (and other gemstones!), 10× magnification is considered the standard in gemology
Melee – a jewelry trade term used to describe small diamonds, weighing less than 1/5 carat (˂0.20 ct), the exact size range of melee can vary from country to country
Pavilion – the lower portion of a diamond below the girdle
Plot (or diamond certificate) – a map of a diamond’s inclusions, blemishes, and facet arrangements
Princess Cut – Trade name for a square- or rectangular-shaped brilliant cut diamond
Proportions – the relationship between the angles and relative measurements of a polished diamond
Scintillation – the flashes of light and dark areas you see when the diamond, light, or viewer moves
Shape – the face-up outline of a diamond —not its cutting style,—e.g. round, marquise, pear, oval, rectangle, heart, and square.
A Prong setting (aka claw setting) is the most common type of setting for solitaire diamond rings. The diamond is placed in a metal head or basket and it is secured with 3-8 prongs.
A Channel setting has diamonds that are placed in a row and are “suspended” between two pieces of metal on the top and bottom with no metal between each stone.
A Pave setting (aka bead setting) contains small round brilliant cut diamonds that are set even with the surface of the ring. Small holes are made in the setting and after the diamond is put into the hole, the surrounding metal is raised to form tiny beads or prongs that will hold the diamond in place.
A Bezel Setting is a technique where a gemstone is surrounded by a thin, flat piece of metal.
Platinum is known for its incredible durability and is 95% pure and will not fade or tarnish keeping its rich white color for a lifetime. It's a great choice for someone who has sensitive skin.
Palladium is part of the platinum family and has a grayish white tone. It is 10% stronger than platinum and consists of 95% palladium and 5% ruthenium.
White Gold, available in 10kt, 14kt or 18kt, is pure gold alloyed with palladium, zinc or nickel. It is stronger than yellow gold. To cover the slightly yellowish tone in white gold, it is rhodium plated.
Yellow Gold, available in 10kt, 14kt or 18kt, is pure gold alloyed with copper and silver.
Rose Gold, available in 10kt, 14kt or 18kt, is pure gold alloyed with copper and comes in a variety of shades from reddish to a soft pink.
I hope this guide helps you find the perfect ring for your partner!
We're honored that Mullen Bros. Jewelers ranks #1 in overall customer ratings among all jewelry stores in Southeastern Massachusetts and we will continue to take care of our neighbors and friends, one jewel at a time.
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