A Guy's Guide to Buying Engagement Rings

With the holiday season upon us and New Years just around the corner, many men will be proposing to their sweethearts. How do you choose the ring?

Now that you're ready to start looking at engagement rings for that special someone, it's time to do a bit of research to make sure you pick just the right one.

If you've never been shopping for engagement rings before, it's understandable that you feel a little lost at first. Here's a bit of an introduction and a "what to watch for."

Engagement rings are a very important symbol of commitment, and perhaps she's been dreaming of receiving hers for a long time. With a bit of planning, you can surprise her with a ring that will be exactly as she's always wished. Below are some key tips to consider during the research stage:

1. First, keep an eye out for the obvious stuff. Is she dropping hints, like making sure you notice how much she loves the look of her friend's new ring? If she is, tune in and take notes, because in those few moments she may specify exactly what she likes, and what she'd prefer to be different in a ring of her own. If you miss a hint like that, then the next few steps are even more crucial; if you're lucky though, you might pick up such useful info such as whether she prefers diamond solitaire rings, or how important the size of a diamond is to her. Maybe she'd prefer a collection of smaller stones, or a more classic, even vintage look?

2. The next thing to consider when it's time to start ring shopping is her preference for the jewelry she already owns. Does she prefer yellow gold, or does she lean more toward white gold and silver? Are there any items she never takes off, like an heirloom locket or watch? A quick scan of her current collection should tell you her colour preferences, and even give you an idea of what will match with the ring you choose.

3. Having a bit of background on diamonds never hurt either. Here are a few quick definitions of the "Four C's" of diamond quality, to help prepare for the next step in your buying process:

Cut

There are a variety of cuts of diamond, each one skillfully shaped to get the most impressive reflection of light possible (where the 'sparkle' comes from). There are brilliant cuts, triangular brilliants, ovals, pear-shaped diamonds, princess cuts, emerald cuts, heart shaped diamonds and many, many others. Ask in store about the various cuts and shapes of diamond available to you, and the significance of each.

Color

The whiter the diamond, the more valuable it is. Even the slightest hint of color can have an effect on the cost of a diamond.
There are also various colored diamond choices available today, but when it comes to the white ones, their quality is rated on scale from D-Z. A "D" is pure white, whereas a "Z" would be visibly yellow.

Clarity

The clarity of a diamond refers to the number of inclusions or blemishes that are visible when you view the stone under a microscope. Some diamond professionals refer to clarity as "purity" or "quality," but neither of those start with "C," so we'll stick with clarity.

Carat

The last and most obvious characteristic that a diamond is measured by is its Carat weight (abbreviated "ct.") which is usually a shown as a decimal point, e.g. 0.72 carats.

Remember, the best thing you can due is to pay attention to the hints she leaves, even if she's not meaning to. She might be obvious about it, and she might give you nothing at all to work with, so follow the guidelines above as closely as possible.

This article was provided by Spence Diamonds