4) Decide on a Carat Weight
What Carat Weight do you want to get her? Or should I say, What Carat Weight does she want? (Has she dropped any hints?) Granted the Carat Weight you buy will really depend upon how much money you want to spend and what quality you are willing to get. But going in with an idea can greatly help.
Most guys will buy a Diamond Ring between the Half Carat (.50) and the 1 Full Carat (1.00) range.
The most important factor here is not how much Carat Weight is in the Entire Ring... But how much Carat Weight is the Center Stone. (Two totally different things - unless you're dealing with a Single Diamond!)
The Solitaire is the showpiece. You want that to stand out above all else. You want it to be as big as possible. You don't want it to get lost in the Mounting. Think center stone first and everything else is secondary!
5) Decide on a Clarity range
This is where you start to do your homework. You must learn about Diamond Quality! The 4 C's are vastly important! Clarity knowledge is crucial to getting a great Diamond or getting ripped off!
Study Clarity and what it really means. Know the difference between a VS, SI and I Clarity Diamond. It can be complicated and confusing at first, but if you study enough Diamonds it will get easier. Microscoping Diamonds will get you familiar with Flaws and Imperfections and will teach you the difference between a Good Diamond... And a Great Diamond!
The average Clarity on the market is SI1 Clarity. SI1 is a Clarity that has Small Inclusions in it that are NOT visible to the naked eye! SI1 Diamonds are affordable as well. Most people are perfectly happy and fine with SI1 Clarity Diamonds!
Do note that going lower in Clarity than an SI1 (SI2, I1, I2 or I3 Clarity) sets you up for not only a less Brilliant Diamond (not so pretty), but also one that you CAN see Imperfections in the stone just by looking at it. You'll be able to see things like: Cracks, Clouds, Fractures, Lines, Chips and Black Carbon Spots. Some of them can be huge, ugly and obvious. Probably not something she would want to look at for the rest of her life. With Clarity, you pretty much get what you pay for!
Now you could go higher in Clarity than an SI1 (like a VS, or VVS Clarity), but they get really expensive and you may not see a difference with the naked eye. (Since we're dealing with microscopic differences only!)
Personally I adore VS Clarity! But I'm also partial because I've been looking at Clarity and Diamonds for over 20 years. You have to decide what Clarity you are fine with. Compare all of them. Put them side by side. Microscope them. Find out what Clarity suits you.
6) Decide on a Color range
The average Diamond Color there is on the market is H-I Color. H-I is in the Near Colorless Range (G, H, I, J) and is a nice Off-White Diamond Color to buy. There's nothing wrong with H-I, but I would recommend going up at least one grade higher. Strive for a G-H instead. G is at the high end of the Near Colorless range. G will look Bright and White!
But if you want to know what Diamond Color I would buy... I would have to say E-F Color. E or F Color is in the Colorless Range (D, E, F) and is the best Color range there is. They are considered Pure White and are extremely White and Bright. They'll look like they have a spot light on them. E-F Diamonds are very Stunning, full of Sparkles, and filled with Life!
It all comes down to money of course. How much are you willing to spend and what are you willing to sacrifice? G-H is a great decent Color. A lot of people can't tell the difference between G-H Colors and the Pure White ones. You'll just have to look and compare them for yourself. Every Diamond is different!
7) Compare, Microscope and Buy a Diamond
Finally it's time to Buy a Diamond. Best advice: Buy the Center Diamond first! Purchase a Loose Diamond so you can get the best possible Quality for your money. Plus, purchasing a Diamond Loose (preferably G.I.A. Certified and Laser Inscribed) will allow you to microscope the Diamond without any distractions. (Prongs, Mountings, Reflections...) Look at the Clarity under a scope. Look at the Plot of a Diamond. View the Laser Inscription on the Girdle. It truly is a wonderful sight!
Not only is viewing Diamonds under a scope important... It's vital! NEVER buy a Diamond without viewing it under 10x magnification. EVER! You can't bypass this golden rule. Take your time. Carry a note book with you and keep track of important features like: Color, Clarity, Carat Weight, Price, Certification and Laser Inscriptions. This will help you keep them straight and choose between the best of them later.
Go around to all the Jewelers in the City. Check them out. See what makes them tick. See who your Friends and Family recommend. Weigh all these factors in so you can narrow it down to a few select, Premium Diamonds.
Then take a Friend with you to get a Second Opinion. (The Jewelry Salesperson's Opinion doesn't count, they are biased!)
Buy from a place that doesn't Misinform or Mislead you. Buy from a place that you feel comfortable with. Chances are good that you'll do all your shopping from that Jeweler from now on. (Customers become very loyal!)
Above all, make sure you buy a Diamond that you fall in love with. You want this Diamond to light up her eyes and put a huge smile on her face. She's going to be wearing this Diamond forever, so make it a good one. Don't rush into it. Take is slow. You don't want to make a hasty decision you'll regret. It's one of those things that you'll know it when you find it.
Scope them well. Learn how to read Certification Papers. Look at all the details before you finally commit to purchase. You'll be happy you did.
Next up: How to Pick a Mounting and getting Insurance!
