{"id":4792,"date":"2012-08-05T11:46:29","date_gmt":"2012-08-05T15:46:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/?p=4792"},"modified":"2017-08-22T15:27:57","modified_gmt":"2017-08-22T19:27:57","slug":"great-diamond-ring-advice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/great-diamond-ring-advice\/","title":{"rendered":"GREAT DIAMOND RING ADVICE"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Great<\/div>\n

Working with Diamonds, Engagement Rings, Jewelry Stores and the public long enough has given me great insights, experience and useful tips<\/strong> to pass on to consumers.<\/p>\n

\nAnd trust me, you’re gonna love these!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nThis article has great tips and tricks that will make your next Diamond Buying Purchase<\/strong> a pleasant one. <\/p>\n

\nPlus, some of these tips could even save you some money!<\/strong> :)<\/p>\n

\nEnjoy! I present to you… <\/p>\n

15 Great Diamond Ring Tips!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\"Great<\/p>\n

\nLet’s begin…<\/p>\n

1) Study the 4C’s<\/h2>\n

\nIf you don’t make the time or effort to understand Diamonds better, I fear your chances of getting ripped off, or ending up with a low quality, crappy Diamond<\/strong> are great. <\/p>\n

\nYou need to understand the hows and whys of what you’re buying<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nLearn about the different Clarities of a Diamond<\/a>. Learn what a good Clarity is, and what a bad one is.<\/p>\n

\nLearn about the different types of Diamond Color<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\nLearn about the different Cuts. What makes a good Cut<\/a>. How can you tell?<\/p>\n

\nThe 4C’s<\/a> are pretty universal in all Jewelry Stores. Do your homework and study up (no better place than here).<\/p>\n

\nThe 4C’s will put you in a much better position to not only understand what makes a Diamond tick, but why one Diamond is priced much higher or lower than another Diamond of the exact same Carat Weight.<\/p>\n

\nIt really is an eye-opener!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nYou do get what you pay for. Don’t pay for CRAP!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nUnless crap is what you like! :)<\/p>\n

2) Buy Certified!<\/h2>\n

\nIf you’re like most people you may just buy any ole ring outta the case. DON’T!!!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nBuy Certified Diamonds ONLY!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nMost people are leery about dealing with Jewelers in the first place, many people just don’t trust them. This is why Certification matters the most!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nCertification does one thing really well, it removes the Jeweler’s Opinion!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nWhich means, the Diamond they are selling you has been graded by an outside certification company<\/strong> (not the Jeweler), that lists the exact quality of that Diamond.<\/p>\n

\nYou’re just not taking the Jeweler’s word for it. It’s backed up by a professional company that tells you exactly what you’re paying for<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nThis also makes it much easier to shop and compare<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nYou can see what all the 4C’s are. You can compare them to other Diamonds. You can compare them to other Jewelry Stores and see who’s giving you the better deal<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nDo Keep in mind that all Diamond Certificates are not the same<\/strong>. Some companies are more lax in their gradings and their reports are very questionable.<\/p>\n

\nTo get the most accurate and strict gradings, stick with the top 2 Certification companies<\/strong> in the country: GIA<\/a> (The Gemological Institute of America<\/strong>) and AGS<\/a> (The American Gem Society<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

\nBuy a Diamond with one of these Certificates and you’ll be buying in confidence<\/strong>… The Diamond you’re getting IS the one listed on the report!<\/p>\n

\nAlso keep in mind that just because you’re buying a Certified Diamond, this doesn’t mean you’re buying a good Diamond!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nGIA and AGS will certify ANY Diamond <\/strong>that is sent to them. That’s what they get paid to do<\/strong>. So if a Jeweler sends them a low quality stone, guess what, they will grade that as a low quality stone.<\/p>\n

\nSo not only do you need to look at who certifies it, but of course, you also need to look at what the actual quality (the 4C’s<\/strong>) are as well.<\/p>\n

3) Get a Larger Center Stone<\/h2>\n

\nYou don’t get many chances in life to upgrade your Diamond. In fact, I’d say most women never do. Which means, the Diamond she gets as her Engagement Ring will probably be the same Diamond she wears her entire life<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nSo if there is any way possible to get her a little bit bigger center stone NOW, do so!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nYou never want to buy her a small Diamond and regret it forever<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nPut your money into one Diamond if you can<\/strong>. And make it as large a stone as you can afford without sacrificing quality<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

\nI mean, if you’re already gonna be making payments on the ring, what’s a few more?<\/p>\n

\nBigger Diamonds bring bigger smiles!<\/strong> Plus, they hold their value much better as well if you ever do decide to upgrade later on down the road.<\/p>\n

\nThinking about getting a 3\/4 Carat? Buy her a 1.00 Carat instead!<\/a><\/p>\n

\nIt’s well worth the added price<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

4) Go Simple!<\/h2>\n

\nIf you don’t know what kind of mounting she’d like, don’t worry; go simple!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nHave the Diamond set into a Classic Tiffany Style Ring<\/a> and she’ll love you forever. You can’t beat a Classic, Elegant Ring. Take a look…<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\"Simple<\/p>\n

\nThis type of mounting shows off a Diamond better than any other mounting<\/strong>. Plus, it doesn’t look gaudy<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

\nIt’s also the cheapest<\/strong> Engagement Ring there is! (unless you buy Platinum<\/strong>!)<\/p>\n

Simple is Better!<\/h2>\n

\nIt never goes out of style and if she does want a different mounting or wedding set, it can easily be swapped out<\/strong> later.<\/p>\n

\nPlus, this ring allows you to put more of your money into the center Diamond, and you won’t ruin a surprise by asking her “What kind of Ring would you like?<\/strong>“<\/p>\n

5) Don’t Hide the Diamond<\/h2>\n

\nMake the center Diamond the focal point<\/strong>. Don’t hide it down into the mounting, or half covered up with bezels or thick gaudy prongs.<\/p>\n

\nMake the Diamond the show piece. That’s where all eyes should be looking.<\/p>\n

\nSo many times do I see people spend $8,000<\/strong> on a large center Diamond, only to set it down low into a wide thick mounting that takes away from the stone.<\/p>\n

\nYou don’t want your Diamond to get lost in the mounting<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Set it up so all can See!<\/h2>\n

\nMy preference is a standard 4 prong White Gold Head<\/a>. It doesn’t cover up or detract from the beauty<\/strong> of the stone.<\/p>\n

\nYou spend this much on a Diamond, you should definitely make that the main attraction!<\/strong><\/p>\n

6) Stay away from Invisible Sets!<\/h2>\n

\nInvisible Set stones are very popular right now because you get a big look at half the price!<\/p>\n

\nBut be warned, the sad reality is the fact that these stones are just small Diamonds put together to look like a bigger stone (cheating<\/strong>), and they aren’t that secure<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

\n\"Dont<\/p>\n

If one of these stones gets bumped and comes out of the mounting, chances are good that more will follow<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nAnd if you ever need to get them tightened or replaced, these Invisible Set mountings can’t be worked on in the store. They have to be sent back to the manufacturer for repairing or replacing (could be up to 6 weeks, if it can be done at all<\/strong>). I can’t tell you how many times this has happened and how many people get disappointed <\/strong>by it. It’s sad<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

\nThese rings look pretty, but I don’t trust them in the least<\/strong>. I advise sticking to a more traditional (One Diamond<\/strong>) piece. You’ll be happier in the long run.<\/p>\n

7) No Fluorescence!<\/h2>\n

\nSome Diamonds glow in the dark<\/strong> under a UV light (called Fluorescence<\/a>).<\/p>\n

\nAnd some of these Diamonds will also look weird in natural light<\/strong> because of it (not all of them).<\/p>\n

\nSometimes Fluorescence will make a Diamond look foggy, hazy or cloudy<\/strong>. It can make a high quality stone look bad.<\/p>\n

\nTake a look at Fluorescence and how a stone may look in both UV lighting and Natural Lighting. See the fogginess?<\/p>\n

\n\"No<\/p>\n

So I strongly advise you to stay away from Diamonds with any kind of Fluorescence<\/strong>, unless you can view that Diamond in different lighting atmospheres to make sure that the Fluorescence doesn’t affect the beauty or sparkle of the Diamond.<\/p>\n

\nBecause buying a cloudy Diamond is a bad choice!<\/strong><\/p>\n

8) Buy an Excellent Cut!<\/h2>\n

\nYou can skimp on Clarity and Color and still get an Excellent looking Diamond, as long as you don’t skimp on Cut!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nI advise buying a Diamond with a GIA Rating of “Excellent” in Cut<\/strong> (“Very Good” at the minimum). <\/p>\n

\nThat way, the light will bounce around inside your Diamond and come back out in a burst of Sparkle, Brilliance and Fire.<\/p>\n

\nA brilliant Diamond can cover up Inclusions, Flaws and mask Color as well.<\/p>\n

\nGIA lists the Cut Grade of the Diamond, right on the Diamond Report<\/strong>…<\/p>\n

\n\"Excellent<\/p>\n

Look for “Excellent”, it’s the best there is!<\/strong><\/p>\n

9) White Gold is Better!<\/h2>\n

\nLet’s face it, White Gold is WAY cheaper<\/strong> than the other popular white metal: Platinum <\/strong>(by 4-5 times).<\/p>\n

\nPlatinum may be more durable than Gold, but White Gold actually has a brighter shine<\/strong> and a brighter whiter appearance. I LOVE WHITE GOLD!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nPlus, White Gold (14k) does one more thing that’s just awesome; It doesn’t add any yellow color into the Diamond<\/strong> (like a Yellow Gold mounting does).<\/p>\n

\nWhiter is brighter and really makes the Diamond “POP<\/strong>“!<\/p>\n

10) No Sizing or Engraving!<\/h2>\n

\nHere’s a mistake that many men make, they buy an Engagement Ring with an intricate mounting, and then they proceed to get it sized and engraved<\/strong> so she’ll be able to put it on and wear it the day she gets it. <\/p>\n

Big Mistake!<\/h2>\n

\nIt all sounds great, but what happens if she doesn’t like the mounting?<\/strong> Or the shape of the stone? <\/p>\n

\nMany stores won’t return<\/strong> or exchange a ring that’s been altered <\/strong>or personalized<\/strong> (Sized or Engraved). <\/p>\n

\nShe may be stuck with it!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nAnd if they do take it back, they may charge you a 20% restocking<\/strong>, repairing, and repolishing fee. All because you wanted to have it sized and engraved beforehand<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

Not Cool!<\/h2>\n

\nThis is why I always advise to wait to get these things done. Leave it in the default ring size<\/strong>. See if she likes the ring first, then get them done<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

\nThat’s the safest bet!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nShe may not be totally happy to wait for the ring to be sized, but at least it saves you from getting stuck with a mounting she doesn’t prefer. <\/p>\n

11) View the Diamond<\/h2>\n

\nIf you only listen to one piece of advice<\/strong> in this entire post, this is it: View the Diamond under 10x Magnification!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nViewing a Diamond under 10x magnification shows you exactly what’s inside the Diamond<\/strong>. It shows you Inclusions, Cracks, Chips, Trigons, Naturals, Black Spots, Extra Facets, Laser Drill Holes and the Inscription Numbers<\/strong> on the side of your stone. Take a peek…<\/p>\n

\n\"View<\/p>\n

Viewing your Diamond is a MUST!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nView the loose Diamond (the only way you should buy a Certified Diamond<\/a>) first from all angles, sides and even upside down. View it under a 10x microscope for best viewing. You can view it with a hand-held 10x Jewelers Loupe<\/a> as well, but it’s much easier to use a scope. <\/p>\n

\nView your stone. Match up the Inclusions you see against the Inclusions shown on your Diamond Plot<\/a> (on a Full Diamond Report). Look around the Girdle<\/a> until you see the Laser Inscription Numbers that match those on the actual Diamond Report. This helps to identify the stone!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nIt’s important that you see what you’re buying<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nCompare different qualities of Diamond as well. Compare it with a stone one step higher and lower in Clarity just so you’ll get a much better feel of what you’re spending your money on.<\/p>\n

\nIt’s well worth the time and effort!<\/p>\n

\nDo it!<\/strong><\/p>\n

12) Don’t Finance it!<\/h2>\n

\nThis is the biggest mistake<\/strong> anyone can do when buying a Diamond Ring… Financing it!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nFinance Charges can run you 20% or more<\/strong>, so that really good deal you just got on your Diamond Ring is lost out the window<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nWhy Pay More?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nTake advantage of a lower interest credit card if you can. Or even get a loan from a credit union.<\/p>\n

\nPut the ring into layaway <\/strong>until you need it. Layaways are Interest FREE!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nI strongly advise paying cash for it if you can<\/strong>. Paying Cash can usually get you an even better deal<\/strong> as well. Just tell them “How much for this ring if I pay Cash for it?<\/strong>” If anything, most stores will at least knock off another 3-4% (what they’d pay in credit card fees).<\/p>\n

\nOne other option that many stores offer is Interest Free Financing<\/strong>, like 12 months same as cash<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nThis sounds great and can be great, but only if you follow the strict guidelines: Pay on time!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nIf you skip just one single payment, or are late just one time, these Interest Free Programs go away and are replaced with high Interest Plans<\/strong> that go back to the very beginning of the contract: Day 1<\/strong>. OUCH!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Be Careful and Beware!<\/p>\n

\nMake sure you don’t falter<\/strong> on any Interest Free payments<\/strong>, or your good Diamond Deal is doubling in cost.<\/p>\n

13) Get a Return Policy!<\/h2>\n

\nMake sure that the place where you buy your Diamond from has a Return Policy!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nJust in case!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nYou never know what the future may bring. You don’t know if she’ll say YES<\/strong>, you don’t know if you’ll still have employment next month… Things Change. Crap Happens!<\/strong> You may find a better deal in 2 weeks that could save you a Thousand bucks! You just never know.<\/p>\n

\nMake sure the store has 100%, no questions asked, Return Policy!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nYou never want to regret your purchase, or be stuck with it<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nSome stores have awesome sales and specials, but be cautious, a lot of these so called blue-light specials<\/strong> have a disclaimer <\/strong>that reads: All Sales Final!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nRead up before you leap…<\/p>\n

\nIt may not be worth it!<\/strong><\/p>\n

14) Get it Inspected!<\/h2>\n

\nPeople put their Jewelry on, wear them, and forget them. They never think twice<\/strong>…<\/p>\n

\nUntil a prong breaks off, or they look down and see their beautiful Diamond is GONE!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nMost of this can be avoided by taking your ring into the Jewelry Store at least 2-3 times a year!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nCleanings and Inspections are Necessary<\/strong>! <\/p>\n

\nIn fact, most chain stores demand <\/strong>that your do this to keep your Diamond Guarantee intact. <\/p>\n

\nThey know that a regular Inspection and Maintenance Routine is a key in preventive medicine<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nStores can usually catch Prongs that are Bent, Snagged, Lifted, or Cracked. They can spot Diamonds that are Loose, or Heads that are Tilted, or Shanks that are Worn and Brittle. <\/p>\n

\nI highly recommend getting this done all the time! Think of how many times you nick your fingers and hands and don’t even realize it. Your rings take even more abuse!<\/p>\n

\nPut the Inspections on a calendar<\/strong>, or set a reminder in your phone. Do it on Spring Forward<\/strong> and Fall Back<\/strong>. Have the store Inspect and Clean your ring (usually no charge) every time you’re in the mall.<\/p>\n

\nThis will save you a lot of headaches in the future, plus, it could also save your Diamond<\/strong> (which reminds me, make sure you get your Diamond Insured!<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

\nInspections are worth their weight in Gold. Don’t put them off! <\/strong><\/p>\n

15) Keep it Clean!<\/h2>\n

\nNothing sucks more than a dirty Diamond. Dirty Diamonds look like Junk!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nSparkle and Brilliance are the Life of any Diamond. Without them a Diamond is nothing more than just another rock in the driveway<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nDirt, Dust, Debris and Oils not only keep a Diamond from shining, but they can actually erode and tarnish the metal as well.<\/p>\n

\nYou wouldn’t wear your clothes for 7 days straight<\/strong> now would you?<\/p>\n

\nRings attract all sorts of goodies: Fingerprints, Hairsprays, Lotions, Perfumes, Soaps, and who knows what else… They dull up your Diamond and stop the light from bouncing around. <\/p>\n

\nNo Sparkle = No Fun!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nPlus, when a Diamond is dirty, the Inclusions inside the stone are much easier to see<\/strong>. Not cool!<\/p>\n

\nKeep your Diamond clean<\/strong>. Use a Jewelry Cleaners<\/a>\"\" or Steam Cleaner<\/a> and my special (and Cheap<\/strong>) Jeweler Cleaner Solution<\/a> and keep your Diamonds sparkling like new.<\/p>\n

\nThere’s no excuse for a Dirty Diamond!<\/p>\n

\nClean it Today!<\/strong><\/p>\n

More Tips and Tricks<\/h2>\n

\nI hope you enjoyed these little Diamond Buying Tips and Tricks<\/strong>. Hopefully they will save you time, effort and maybe even some money<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

\nIf you know of more tips, feel free to leave them in the comments<\/strong> below.<\/p>\n

\nAnd if you really enjoyed these tips, please Share this post on Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nThanks much!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nCheers! :)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Working with Diamonds, Engagement Rings, Jewelry Stores and the public long enough has given me great insights, experience and useful tips to pass on to consumers. And trust me, you’re gonna love these! This article [Read More…]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4800,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29,3,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4792","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-diamond-guide","category-diamonds","category-engagement"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4792"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4792"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4792\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4800"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4792"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4792"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4792"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}