Ready to propose to your significant other with the perfect diamond engagement ring? Congratulations! Buying an engagement ring is such an exciting time, so with the help of Peter & Co. Jewelers, Rich & Kitch are here to provide you with a diamond engagement ring shopping guide! We partnered with our jewelry store located in the Cleveland area to share helpful tips around shopping for diamonds & choosing the best engagement ring for your soon-to-be fiancé. You’ll learn about the 4C's of diamonds (which are cut, color, clarity, & carat weight) and we’ll show you some of the beautiful diamonds offered at Peter & Co. in Avon Lake, Ohio. This is your first step on your way to getting hitched, so cheers to deciding to spend forever with the one you love most!
Whether you are shopping for engagement rings as a couple, or you are planning an amazing surprise proposal, there are many elements that go into choosing the perfect diamond. It's important to know what you are looking for, but working with expert Jewelers like Tammy at Peter & Co. makes the process fun & enjoyable!
DIAMOND SHAPES
The first thing you'll likely think about when it comes to diamond shopping is the shape. When Richie picked out my engagement ring, he knew I wanted a pear. My mom's wedding ring is a pear, so this unique diamond shape is what I've always been drawn to. If you don't discuss the type of ring you want as a couple, we recommend looking through your partners Pinterest account to see the types of engagement rings they've pinned. Your significant other will likely have a wedding inspiration board already but don't let this freak you out - it is super common to dream about your wedding day for years before it even becomes a reality! If your partner doesn't have a Pinterest board with engagement ring inspiration, try asking family members or friends to see the kind of ring style they think will be best. Another thing to keep in mind if you don't shop for rings together is to make sure that this trusted family member or friend knows the correct ring size of your future fiancé!
If you still need help choosing the perfect diamond shape, your jeweler can help you make this decision. But at the end of the day, remember that you really can't go wrong with any diamond since they are all so beautiful! Not all diamond shapes are shown below, but swipe through the diamond photos to see examples of a round (which is the most popular shape), marquise, and pear. Other common diamond shapes that are not pictured include oval, cushion, princess, emerald, radiant, asscher, and heart.
THE FOUR CS OF DIAMONDS
The 4C's that go into diamonds include cut, carat, color, and clarity. The cut often gets confused with the shapes we just discussed, but the cut refers to the diamond's proportions & how much the diamond reflects light. Cuts include excellent, very good, good, and fair.
Carat determines the weight of the diamond which also relates to the size. However, a two carat round diamond will look very different than a two carat marquise diamond. The marquise shape elongates the finger whereas a round diamond will sit up higher on the finger. So, our advice with carat weight is to not be overly focused on carats!
The next C of diamonds is clarity. Here is an overview of the different clarities to be aware of as you are shopping for the perfect diamond!
Flawless (FL) Diamonds
Internally Flawless (IF) Diamonds
VVS1, VVS2 Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS) Diamonds
VS1, VS2 Very Slightly Included (VS) Diamonds
SI1, SI2 Slightly Included (SI) Diamonds
I1, I2, I3 Included Diamonds
Color is the last element of a diamond and these are three main color categories for traditional diamonds:
Colorless: D, E, F
Near-colorless: G-H, I-J
Faint color: K
Remember that a higher carat, more clarity, and less color to a diamond will increase the price, too!
You also have the option to buy a more unique color, like a yellow diamond pictured below, or a diamond alternative like a sapphire. While sapphires are traditionally blue, sapphires come in every color except red, as a red gemstone is a ruby!
RING SETTING & METAL
Now that you have background knowledge of diamonds, choosing the perfect engagement ring doesn't stop yet! You'll also need to choose the metal & the type of band for the diamond. Different metals include yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, silver, and platinum. Then, you'll need to decide if you want a plain band, diamonds in the band and/or a diamond halo around the main diamond! More details about ring settings can be found here.
Also, a quick fun fact about Fana rings (pictured below) is that they include a sapphire on the inside of each of their bands. A sapphire is my & Richie's birthstone, so ending up with a Fana engagement ring & wedding bands is super meaningful to us!
WEDDING BANDS
While you won't need to shop for wedding bands at this point in your wedding planning process, you will want to consider how the engagement ring will look with a wedding band. Some diamond shapes will not allow the band to sit flush with the engagement ring, but stacking bands is a new trend that is great alternative.
Your significant other will likely be more involved in the wedding band shopping, too! This is a fun experience for you both to go into your jewelry store together, try on different bands, mix & match different styles, etc.! And if you have a jeweler like Peter & Co., they'll make this process even more fun with a glass of champagne. Who doesn't love diamond shopping with some bubbly, right?!
WORKING WITH A JEWELER
Another engagement ring collection carried at Peter & Co. is Tacori which is pictured below! You really can't go wrong with any of these (Hearts On Fire, Fana, & Tacori) but it is great to look through different designers to see what fits best in your budget & the style you are looking for. It is extremely important to work with a reputable jeweler as you are shopping for a diamond engagement ring, too. They carry certified diamonds by GIA & AGS and will make sure you purchase the best diamond engagement ring that fits your wants & needs! Peter & Co. will get the perfect diamond for you & will create a completely customizable experience for your diamond & wedding band to match your vision!
We cannot thank Peter & Co. Jewelers enough for letting us share this diamond engagement ring shopping experience with you! My engagement ring & wedding bands as well as my mom's customized wedding ring is from Peter & Co., so this jewelry store is extremely meaningful to us. Working with Tammy, Theresia, & the team is always such an enjoyable experience, too! If you are in the Cleveland area, we highly recommend shopping Peter & Co. Jewelers! If you're ready to make your appointment with Peter & Co., click here.
Our final tip is that once you purchase the perfect diamond engagement ring is to make sure you get it insured, which Rich & Kitch can help with! Please contact us here for more information about a personal articles policy.
WORTH YOUR WHILE
LET’S BE FRIENDS
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