The process of choosing a diamond engagement ring is an exciting time for every couple. But with so many diamond shapes, cuts, and ring settings to choose from, finding the perfect engagement ring can feel daunting. If you're not sure where to start, here's how shopping for a diamond ring based on your personality can help you find your perfect match.
Step 1: Set your budget.
Before you start jewelry shopping, set a price range. If this is your first time shopping for a diamond engagement ring, a diamond ring might seem like a significant investment. Set aside some time to have an honest conversation with your future spouse about your budget to decide how much you're willing to spend.
If you're shopping for an engagement ring on a budget, consider working with a wholesale jeweler. By cutting out the middlemen, wholesale jewelers like Agape Diamonds offer promotional discounts and special offer sales lower than popular fine jewelry designer collections like Ada Diamonds, De Beers, Helzberg Diamonds, Diamond Nexus, and James Allen. To find more about promotions, reach out to a customer service support team member.
Step 2: Research the 4Cs.
Cut, color, clarity, and carat weight are the four main factors you'll need to take into account before purchasing your diamond ring. Researching the 4Cs can help you create your wish list diamond engagement ring, so if you haven't done your homework yet, here's a quick review:
Cut: The cut grade refers to the sparkle and fluorescence that refracts from within the diamond, which is achieved by faceting and polishing the gemstone. A well-cut diamond offers better sparkle. If clarity isn't your top priority, a VS2 or SI1 diamond can help you focus your budget on more important factors.
Color: Colorless diamonds lack any hue. Color is highly valued in the diamond industry, meaning the less color a diamond has, the more valuable it is.
Clarity: Clarity refers to how clean or clear the gemstone is. In the jewelry industry, the clarity of a stone can significantly influence its value.
Carat: The carat of diamond refers to the weight and size of the diamond. However, depending on the shape and cut of the gemstone, two diamonds with the same carat of diamond can be different sizes.
Step 3: Decide on the diamond type.
Whether you're set on real diamonds or lab diamonds, researching different types of diamonds can help you find the best diamond for you. A diamond simulant or synthetic diamond is a man-made single crystal, like cubic zirconia, which is designed to simulate the appearance, but not duplicate the characteristic properties of a natural diamond. Lab diamonds, in contrast, duplicate the chemical properties, optical properties, and physical properties of mined diamonds to the naked eye.
If you're interested in making a more ethical choice, consider investing in lab diamonds created by expert jewelers in the United States using a combination of high temperatures and high pressure. Lab diamonds, which are typically created for industrial use, are created with a pure carbon starter seed in a vacuum chamber using high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD) processes with the highest safety measures. The combination of heat and extreme pressure created by HPHT processes mimics the natural diamond growing processes within the Earth's mantle to create high-quality lab diamonds free of inclusions and impurities.
Lab diamonds offer numerous advantages over mined diamonds, including a clean origin, lower price, and durability. Additionally, every diamond jewelry purchase from a reputable lab diamond company comes with a certificate from a third-party gem lab such as the Gemological Institute of America or International Gemological Institute with necessary information on the carat of diamond, cut, and color to ensure authenticity. However, due to their wide availability, lab diamonds lack a significant resale value compared to natural diamonds.
Step 4: Choose a ring setting.
There are various factors to consider when deciding on a ring setting, including the type of setting, color, precious metal, and number of prongs. When deciding on your ring setting, keep in mind that your choice should depend on your personality and personal style. To help you find your perfect match, here's a breakdown of the most common ring settings by personality type:
Bold and outgoing: If you're bold and outgoing, a halo engagement ring might be the perfect fit for you. A beautiful halo of diamonds creates an eye-catching sparkle and will make your center gemstone appear even larger.
Sophisticated and worldly: If you're the sophisticated type, a vintage-style engagement ring is the perfect choice. With stunning intricate detailing, vintage-style diamond engagement rings offer an elegant, classic look.
Adventurous and outdoorsy: If you love an adventure, a solitaire engagement ring is the perfect fit. The round solitaire diamond ring is a classic for a reason—it's simple, chic, universally flattering, and almost always the sparkliest pick. Oval solitaire diamond rings, another versatile diamond shape, is especially stunning in a ring setting with smaller gemstones. Solitaire diamond engagement rings can also be paired with any style wedding band, including white gold, sterling silver, and yellow gold bands.
Classic and traditional: If you rock a classic style but love a little sparkle, consider a pavé engagement ring. Whether you opt for a simple ring setting or an infinity design, pavé engagement rings are a beautiful and traditional twist on the classic diamond engagement ring.
Untraditional and offbeat: If you like to stand out from the crowd, a colorful gemstone in a set of diamond fashion rings might be the perfect choice. Lab diamonds come in various colors, including yellow, emerald, blue, and pink, and can be paired with any diamond engagement ring style.
Step 5: Choose the perfect diamond.
With a wide variety of metals, cuts, and diamond shapes to choose from, picking the perfect engagement ring for your personality can feel overwhelming. Start by following steps 1–5 and choosing whether to purchase your diamond ring from an online jeweler or retail jeweler.
If you're shopping for loose diamonds for a ring setting, remember that the shape of diamond will be more limited because some settings can only accommodate specific diamond shapes. As one of the most popular loose diamonds, round gems can fit most ring settings.
If you're struggling to choose your favorite ring style, consider custom engagement rings. With the help of expert jewelers, you'll be able to create a one-of-a-kind custom diamond ring that matches your personality and personal style.
Choosing a diamond ring shouldn't be stressful. It should be FUN! Take your time to choose a diamond ring that matches your personality and remember to have fun shopping for your perfect engagement ring.
