Engagement Ring Guide
“Will you marry me?” The age-old question goes. As the question uttered moments before two individuals join as one to form something greater than themselves, “Will you marry me?” is a proposal of great joy and achievement for people all around the world. However it is a source of great stress and preparation as well, with a mistake– or worse, a rejection– being the biggest fear of the proposer.
The star of the proposal is typically the engagement ring. Diamonds are forever, so what better way to signify your undying love for your future spouse? The problem becomes choosing the stone: with so many options to choose from, information seemingly scarce, and a daunting price tag, everyone wants to nail this part of the process. An engagement ring is a one-time purchase that is typically among the most expensive of one’s lifetime, so the beauty really is in the details. The Diamond Spot Boston has been one of the most renowned locations to not only find the diamond of your dreams, but to customize your ring and ensure your diamond is worth your time and money, and it is our pleasure to provide the following guide:
1. Select a diamond:
Selecting the stone of your dreams seems like the most daunting part of the process. Between the “4 C’s”, laboratory reports and price differences that seemingly don’t make sense, choosing a loose diamond can seem like an impossible decision– that’s why we at The Diamond Spot use our expertise to walk our clients through the process.
The most important factor to consider is the “4 C’s”: Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat (which is the unit diamond size is measured in).
Cut pertains to diamond shape, the most popular of which being round, though heart, pear, oval, and other common shapes may attract certain people more so than the classic round shape.
Color, ironically enough, is defined as the diamond’s absence of color. Diamond Color is graded on a scale from D-Z, where D is colorless (white) and Z is a nearly yellow color.
Clarity is graded on a scale from “IF” (internally flawless) to “I” (imperfect). These grades pertain to the amount/size of inclusions inside a diamond. Inclusions are identified and plotted using a 10x magnification jewelers loupe, and only stones graded “I1” or below have eye-visible inclusions.
Carat is the unit of diamond weight, where 1 carat equals 0.2 grams. The larger a diamond, the more expensive the price: for example, a 2 carat stone is typically more valuable than two 1 carat stones of the same quality. The same is true for bigger stones as well.
None of the above “C’s” is more important than the other, which makes selecting a stone truly a matter of personal preference. The 4 C’s are best used to determine diamond values and ensure you pay fair market value for a diamond.
2. Make sure its certified and authentic:
While diamond grades are crucial for the decision-making process, it is equally (if not more so) important to ensure the information you were given about a stone is accurate.
There are several world-renowned gemological laboratories that authenticate and grade diamonds, though none are quite as respected as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The certificate should plot out the stone’s 4 C’s, measure its size and proportions, and give any supplementing information about a diamond, such as the laser inscription number (specific to GIA stones graded since 2016).
While a certificate serves as an appraisal of quality, the most important aspect is it proves your stone is genuine and authentic– GIA-certified diamonds are the highest standard. Think of your lab report as the “deed” to your diamond, as without one it is difficult to authenticate or appraise your diamond.
3. Select a setting:
We at The Diamond Spot Boston leverage our professional network to provide not only the finest diamonds in the Boston area, but also the most exquisite jewels and diamond settings for our gems. The setting of your diamond should depend on preference. The most popular engagement ring style is the solitaire ring, though many prefer three-stone rings, “his and hers” two-stone rings (Toi Et Moi), or any other style, as jewels can be customized to your exact requirements.
4. Engravings, box, and presentation:
Once you’re all set, it’s time to improve the presentation! Proposing to your better half is the hardest question you’ll ever have to ask, and The Diamond Spot does all we can to help you nail the big question. We offer custom engravings, such as initials or messages of affirmation. We offer numerous box styles in many different colors and patterns. Lastly, we will help with any custom requests and even after-sales services, such as ring resizing and alterations.
We at The Diamond Spot Boston pride ourselves not only on our stunning diamond inventory, great prices and exceptional service, we also focus on transparency. The Diamond Spot engagement ring guide is an objective tool we offer our clients, and we look forward to helping you prepare to pop the big question.
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