Choosing the perfect ring can be a challenging task, especially with so many choices on offer. Navigating the world of engagement rings is often confusing, so let us help you with this three-part blog series on choosing a bespoke engagement ring design.

Part 2 – Choosing the Best Diamond Engagement Ring

Part Two in this step by step guide to choosing the best engagement ring for your loved one briefly covers the 4C’s (cut, clarity, colour and carat) as well as diamond shapes and how to choose the perfect diamond with all this information in mind.

Cut

Cut, clarity, colour and carat are the most important factors to consider when choosing a diamond for you engagement ring and bespoke jewellery. The cut of a diamond refers to its angles; the most ideal diamond cut is one which allows the most light to reflect from inside the stone, creating beautiful sparkle. Even a small diamond with a perfect cut can outshine a larger diamond with a mediocre cut. So, make sure that choosing a well-cut diamond is considered in your diamond choosing process.

Clarity

The clarity of a diamond refers to how clean the diamond looks and how ‘flawless’ it is. Blemishes on the surface of a diamond and inclusions within the stone can drastically reduce the quality of the diamond. Blemishes often come in the form of imperfections which can make a diamond look dull. Inclusions of air bubbles or organic matter are common to naturally-occurring diamonds, as the process requires a huge amount of pressure which often creates imperfections. 

Inclusions are not always a bad thing though and can often add character to a diamond – no two diamonds are the same. Choosing a reputable retailer with experience in sourcing the best quality diamonds is essential if you want to make sure you get the best diamond your budget will allow.

Colour

The perfect diamond is completely clear or colourless, with no blemishes or inclusions. Diamonds are graded on a scale of D to Z depending on how transparent they are. When choosing your engagement ring design, make sure to consider how sparkly you want your diamond to be, as lower graded diamonds (below I/J) will not provide the radiance of more highly-graded diamonds (D-H).

Carat

Diamond refers to the weight of a diamond. Generally speaking, the heavier the diamond is, the more expensive it will be. While a lot of women crave more than a 1ct diamond, this is probably the least important of the 4Cs to consider, as the beauty of the chosen diamond will be more affected by colour, clarity and cut than by weight or size.

A 1ct ‘round brilliant cut’ diamond colour D and clarity VS1 would cost you somewhere in the range of £6-12,000. (As of prices March 2020)

Shape

Some believe a diamond’s cut means its shape but this is a separate thing entirely! There are many diamond shapes to choose from including (but not limited to) round, oval, princess, marquise, baguette, pear and emerald! Which you choose will mostly depend upon the style of diamond engagement ring you are looking for, so make sure to consider this before going ring shopping and talk to your designer if you want something specific.

Listen To Your Heart

The most important part of selecting the perfect piece of bespoke jewellery is listening to your heart. Whilst family members and friends may have opinions on the best engagement ring design – only you know what will be perfect for the woman you propose to.

Contact Us

For more information about choosing the perfect, bespoke diamond engagement ring, fill in our contact form today.

As this was a brief overview, you can learn more about the 4C’s in this video I recorded which goes into the different grades and their values here!