Which clarity grade of diamonds to choose when buying proposal ring?

[franknewrd]

intending to propose soon. Any advice?

[FredPuli43]

An extraordinary question. So extraordinary, I'd have thought it was someone planting an ad.Guess what? One newbie posts and within minutes another newbie answers with a link to a trade site offering to sell diamonds.

Who'd be daft enough to buy diamonds online?

[DTCwordfan]

Do not buy investment grade stones; if you get divorced you will regret it. - No the thing to settle on is a good quality stone

Remember firstly the 4 Cs, Carat (weight), Colour, Cut, Clarity.

Now on colour and cut, I leave that to you...personally I like emerald cut (rectangular ones) or step-cut aka square. Colour - well diamonds really do vary. They are graded from D to Z, D = totally brilliant to deeply coloured. A G to J usually works well

On Clarity, this is where a lot of your money can go. The grading is F (flawless) IF (internally flawless - .. some surface marks) VV1 and VV2 some tiny inclusions and small bubbles, then S1 and S2 (small inclusions and I-1 I-2 I-3 which are heavily included.

VVI and VV2 will give you good quality.

Now another carat = weight 1 carat = 0.2g and each carat has 100 points for subdivision.

If you are buying a 1, 1.5, 2 carat remember there is a huge price difference to going for a 0.99, 1.49, 1.99 - looks the same but can save you 20% plus.

Lastly use a platinum mount, they are stronger.

So now you are ready to go and ask for that 1.99 Em-Cut, VVI, G stone. Should be around £5-6k for that.....

[DTCwordfan]

Oh and try and buy from a wholesaler, not a retail shop.....that saves you buckets. I have bought mine in Antwerp, Hong Kong or through New York and this saves you buckets.....a trip to Hatton Gardens may be well worth it. For example last time I went for 0.99 EM VVI I, I was quoted $3000 a stone (I wanted 5 to 6 for an eternity ring); a friend in the trade gave me them at cost plus 10%, or rather $900, so well worth pursuing this route.

Prices have dramatically increased because of the Chinese, Indian and Russians coming into the market big-time. Not good news for you I am afraid.

[franknewrd]

@DTcrosswordfan.

I was looking at stores in new york myself. What is a 0.99 EM VVI I?

[DTCwordfan]

now you know....

[B00]

Now i know (or think I do?) that this was posted purely for an advert, but DT's reply made me reply.

Why would you look into all of that when buying a ring? Surely you buy with the thought of "Hope she likes it" thought in mind? Providing you can afford it, why is what the ring's worth or likely to be worth even an issue?

[franknewrd]

hmmm... i am still not sure what DT means by EM. I do have a budget for the ring and it's not huge. after all, i want to make sure my hard earned cash is well spent. when i walked into different stores yesterday, different people were telling me different things on clarity. how clarity could affect the beauty of the stone and the thing is, the difference in clarity grade causes a subtantial price jump.

[B00]

to be honest, i think you should ignore all that ,and go for the ring that says "the one" to you, and one which you think your intended would like.

[mrs_overall]

I would have been disappointed if I had been presented with a ring when being proposed to.
IMHO the proposal should be followed by a joint visit to the jewellers to choose the ring.
What if she hates your choice?

[rowanwitch]

the clarity combined with the cut gives the stone its sparkle and life
A smaller stone of really good quality will look far more beautiful than a large one that is dulled by inclusions and imperfections...

other things to consider are the sort of hands the lady has large rings only look good on long elegant fingers shorter stubby fingers need a smaller simpler setting. Remember as well she will want to wear her wedding ring with it eventually the combined width of the engagement ring shank and wedding ring will look better if they dont fill too much of the space between the base of the finger and the first knuckle. And check if she is a yellow or white wearer if all she wears is silver or white gold jewellery she will probably prefer a white gold or platinum ring

[DTCwordfan]

em = emerald cut....... br = brilliant

sorry I disagree boo - this is a substantial amount of money being invested and you want to get the best investment that you can, so some basic knowledge is worth knowing - and also to use the loop to look for the number and size of inclusions.

yes I agree with a joint trip but then each girl is different as to this.....once you have diamonds of a quality/price that you like, then you buy on emotion - and, by the way, its often like a house in that the one you love is just outside your price range, so boys budget in a secret 10-15% or so to cover for this "eventuality"

[daffy654]

Do you mean loupe DT? ;-)

[237SJ]

Just go to Tiffany`s off Lexington Avenue. Sorted.

[DTCwordfan]

sorry yes I do, 237, what a plonker to forget the "e"

[DTCwordfan]

nice stones but you really pay through the nose - I bought an eternity ring (stupidly in retrospect) through one of the Tiffany diamond buyers in Hong Kong....and the Tiffany mark up is huge.

[daffy654]

I am very lucky to have a fiancé who has worked in the jewellery retail trade for many years on and off. There is not a chance in hell he would ever buy me a diamond that wasn't good quality. :)

[237SJ]

There`s a huge mark-up on all jewellery Tiffany or not. It used to be 400% but it`s greater now. I got a Links sweetie bracelet that was £90 for £12.50 in the silvermarket in Mexico City.

[rowanwitch]

My engagement ring was bought second hand after we'd visited nearly every jeweller in north wales it's small dainty and absolutely perfect and an unusual six stone design. As a bonus the stones were pretty good too. The truth is if she loves you it won't matter if you spend £500 or £5000

[DTCwordfan]

they always say to have a jeweller in the family along with a lawyer, doctor and accountant.