Diamonds make a great gift at this time of year. They express feelings that there are no real words for, so finding the right ring is important. This can be done based on several different categories including:
- Shape
- Carat
- Style
It is important to understand all three of these categories before making a decision about a ring, so make sure you get some education on diamonds.
Shape
The shape of the diamond has a lot to do with the personality of the person who will wear it. There are a few basic shapes for diamonds:
- Round/pillow. This is a very simple and classic round stone. With round, the only way to get unique is with a good setting around the stone.
- Princess. This stone is also very classic, with a square shape and particular cut.
- Heart. There aren’t a lot of ways to cut this shape, but there doesn’t have to be. A heart can say a lot about a relationship in stunning ways, but it may not be the best fit if you’re shopping for yourself.
- Pear. This is also a teardrop shape. The uniqueness of the shape offers a wide variety of brilliant and beautiful settings.
- Marquise. The oblong shape, like the pear, offers a variety of unique settings.
- Emerald. This rectangular stone can be put into a number of settings. Generally they are best if you’re willing to splurge a little on a larger stone and small diamond settings around it.
Shape is different than cut in a very subtle way. Cut determines not just the shape of the diamond, but the way the diamond is cut all around in order to get the best brilliance.
Carat
Most savvy shoppers know that the carat is the size of the diamond. Some forsake color and clarity for carat, preferring a larger stone. Before making the decision on getting a big stone, remember that the brilliance of the diamond has little to do with the size.
Diamonds that have good clarity (less flawed) typically have better color as well. The larger the diamond gets, the harder it is to get flawless color and clarity. Basically, a smaller diamond may have a more brilliant shine. Also, larger diamonds are harder to come by, so the cost increases significantly as the size does.
If you’re shopping for a bride, don’t choose a larger, rough diamond for her finger. Consider tips from Forbes on choosing the right size diamond.
Style
While the shape and the carat of the ring are important, the style of the setting is where personal flare comes into play, whether for yourself or someone else. When shopping for diamonds, keep these styles in mind:
- Solitaire. This is the classic diamond on a simple band. There are no designs or stones to set it off. All of the focus is on the centerpiece of the ring: the diamond.
- 3-Diamond: As the name implies, this ring has three diamonds on a simple band. Typically it is one larger stone with two smaller ones on either side.
- Accent: There are a variety of different settings for this style. Typically the one large stone is the centerpiece, with diamond chips along the band to accent the color.
- Halo: Again, there are a variety of different settings for this style. The difference between halo and accent is that the diamond chips are also set in a ring around the main diamond, as well as the band.
Keep all of these in mind, and you can find the right diamond to fit your style.