When buying any form of jewellery it is important that you do your research to make sure that you are getting the best quality for your money.This is even more important when investing in an engagement or wedding ring. Diamond expert and founder of Diamond Manufacturers, Vashi Dominguez, offers his top tips for choosing the perfect diamond for your ring.

Shape:

The shape of the diamond will determine the look of the ring. If the diamond is for an engagement ring, the diamond will be prominent; if opting for a diamond wedding band then you need to decide whether you want round or square diamonds set in the band.

The Cut:

The cut is the most important factor when determining value of the diamond. A good cut lets a diamond handle light well and emit sparkle. Grades of cut range from ‘Super Ideal’ to ‘Good’, ‘Super Ideal’ being the highest cut grade.

In a well cut diamond the light enters the diamond and is reflected from one side of the diamond to the other and back into the viewer’s eye.  This light is called the ‘brilliance’. In a poorly cut diamond the light ‘leaks’ out the sides or bottom of the diamond, rather than being reflected.

The Carat:

The Carat is the weight of the diamond. The higher the carat the higher the value and size.

Colour:

The colour of a diamond is graded by how ‘white’ the stone is. Grade D is colourless and Z has a yellow tint. The whiter the diamond the greater its value.

Clarity:

Clarity is affected by flaws known as ‘inclusions’ on or in the stone. Grades of clarity range from FL (flawless) to i3 (visible inclusions). The fewer inclusions a diamond has, the more valuable it is.

Budget:

Define your budget and only spend an amount that you are comfortable with when buying your ring. There are great tricks to saving money when buying diamonds, for example if you buy a stone that’s slightly under-size to the nearest round carat weighting, e.g. 0.9 of a carat, you’ll save up to 30%.

Ring Size:

Remember that smaller diamonds will look bigger on slender fingers, so make sure that the ring is right for the wearer.

Thank you Vashi for your insight – here’s hoping it helps many couples and planners when choosing rings this Summer.