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Diamonds are beautiful, exciting and timeless – but they’re also a big decision. Read on for a few tips to help you choose the perfect one.
Big life moments come with big pressure. Big expectations. But, if handled with a bit of care (and a lot of good advice), these moments also bring huge happiness, wild excitement and very big rewards.
In terms of big moments, getting engaged is right up there. If you're the asker, the ring buyer, the person on bended knee - it's likely you're experiencing a few big feelings. Our job isn't to tell you how, when or where to propose (we have no doubt you'll nail it) - we're here to help you make the best choice for you and your partner when it comes to the ring.
Every diamond is unique - a beautiful result of time, place, chance and change. While there can be many personal factors involved when it comes to value - history, relationships, beloved imperfections - to determine a diamond's quality and value, we turn to the four C's: Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat.
The cut of a diamond is often viewed as its most important characteristic. Diamond cuts are graded across five levels, ranging from 'Excellent' to 'Poor'. The higher the grade, the higher the degree of brightness, fire (rainbow colours), brilliance, and scintillation (sparkle).
Confusing as it may sound, a diamonds colour is actually graded by its lack of colour. The grading scale ranges from D (colourless, excellent and rare) to Z (lightly coloured including greys and champagnes).
A diamond's clarity refers to its internal and external blemishes and imperfections - things that make each diamond unique - otherwise known as 'inclusions'. Due to the nature of how diamonds are formed (under powerful heat and pressure) it's rare to find a diamond completely free from inclusions. The clarity scale ranges from 'IF' (Internally Flawless) to I1-I4 (Included).
A diamond's weight (and ultimately its size) is measured in carats, with one carat equalling 200mg of weight. The appearance of a diamond - its physical size and proportions - are also dependent on its cut.
First things first: consider your budget. What can you realistically afford to spend? Ignore old-fashioned 'rules' about months' worth of earnings, and focus on the number that makes you feel good.
Once you have a number in mind, think about what your partner may want in terms of precious metal, stone, size and style. Would they prefer diamonds or gemstones? Platinum or rose gold? Round brilliant or emerald cut?If this step sends unpleasant shivers down your sweat-soaked spine, don't panic. You have options. We offer a 'proposal ring' - a band that acts as a stand-in for the big romantic moment, which you and your partner then later replace with the ring of your choice. No matter how you do it, we're here for you - every step of the way.
At McClurgs, we feel honoured to be part of so many big moments. Let us help you out with this one. For all engagement ring queries: get in touch, book an appointment below or come visit our showroom and workshop in sunny Hawke's Bay.
