How to Choose a Perfect Engagement Ring

There are two things to consider when you buy the ring: the metal and the gem. It sounds rather simple, but it only looks like this. In fact, many men would say, that buying an engagement ring is the most stressful thing that they had to do. So before you go shopping alone or with your partner, learn the next rules by heart.

Metal. There are many metals for the engagement ring. Platinum is a popular choice, because it's extremely durable and hypoallergenic, in case the bride has a sensitive skin. Also platinum has a light color, that is a perfect background for the diamond. Gold comes in a variety of colors: white, yellow, rose and even green (we bet you didn't know about it). There is also palladium, that is grayer than platinum, but it's also very nice.

Gem. You want to give your bride the best engagement rind she wants to, and the gem in it should shine and sparkle. And you also don't want to go broke, don't you? So learn the rule of 4 Cs (cut, color, clarity, carat) that will help you find a perfect ring for your lady.

Cut. Cut is responsible for how the diamond reflects the light, so don't confuse it with the shape. The better the cut is, the more dazzling the diamond will be. Some diamonds are pretty big but they have poor cut and won't sparkle at all. You can find out about the cut of the diamond by the GIA (the Gemological Institute of America) report. Always ask for it before you buy the ring.

Color. Did you know that diamonds have different shades? They are measured from colorless (D) to brown (Z). The most expensive diamonds are within the D range, however, you can save money and buy a diamond within the G to I range. These gems have a little or almost no noticeable color, but at the same time they look great, and they cost less. However, some gems have such deep colors, that they are registered as fancy, and their color makes them very expensive.

Clarity. Many gems are perfect and have no blemishes and inclusions, as you can guess, they are the most expensive. But the more flaws the diamond has, the less expensive it is. Relax, many imperfections can't be noticed, unless you look at the diamond without magnification. If you want to save and have a good ring, then buy the diamond, that has no visible specks.

Carat. Carat is actually the weight of the diamond, not the size. And large diamonds don't always weight a lot! So first consider the weight of the diamond, only then the shape. By the way, 1.8 and 2 carat diamonds look almost the same, but the first ones are about 20 percent less expensive.