3.1.09

How to Find Right Diamond Carat Weight For Engagement Rings

Diamonds usually rule the couples' minds when shopping
for engagement rings. They can pick up a loose stone and
ask the jeweler to shape it according to their specifications
of shape and size to set it on the ring. However, carat
weight of the diamond must first be known to them for
a perfect ring in terms of its appearance and costs.


Carat weight of diamonds is mainly responsible for
making the stone costly or less expensive. One carat
equals to 200 milligrams of actual weight. But when
you buy the diamond of less than one carat, the
measurement is expressed in points, with 100 points
making one carat and each point is one-hundredth or
0.01 of a carat. This terminology gains important for
the couples because the jeweler will talk to them this
way. So, the couple must know what exactly the weight
of the diamond is, the jeweler is telling them for the
engagement ring. For instance, if he tells you that the
diamond weights 5 points, it means it is five
one-hundredths of a carat.
The prices will be set accordingly.The couples must
also be aware of the difference between carat weight
and total carat weight to determine the total cost of
engagement rings. Total carat weigh refers to the sum
total weight of all the smaller diamonds that you choose
for the rings. As a rule, know that one carat diamond
will cost you much more than say three to four stones
that are smaller in size but their total weight is equal
to one carat.

This is the reason for solitaire diamond engagement
rings being expensive than the ones that consist of
smaller stones, such as a three stone ring.But if you
wish to own a solitaire ring, still you can reduce its cost
to larger extent. To do so, instead of purchasing one
carat diamond, go for a little lesser one with a weight
of 90 points. Such a stone will have the same high glitter
and fire at a lower cost. Similarly, when intending to
buy a 2 carat diamond, a little lesser weight of the stone
will serve the same purpose at less expensive costs.
You must also be aware about the costs involved in
cutting the diamonds in different shapes.
There is a lot of labor and skill spent on shaping the
stone as per the specifications. A simple square or
rectangle shape can be carved out at lower costs. A
shape of heart or pear needs extra skills and becomes
expensive for engagement rings.But know also that
a less expensive smaller diamond can be set in such a
way that it looks larger on the ring. So, the key to low
cost engagement ring is to purchase a lower priced
smaller diamond and give it a setting that will give it
a larger look. And finally, with all the knowledge about
diamonds in mind, never rush to purchase the stone.
Compare numbers of jewelers on their website and see
which ones are offering the stone and engagement rings
at competitive prices.

Diamond Engagement Rings - How To Buy And Avoid Scams

You should be as educated as the salespeople to play on a level
playing field as you shop. You should always ask to view the
diamond through a 10x viewing loupe. If the jeweler gives you
any bogus excuse why you can’t, then leave immediately. Any
legitimate jeweler would supply a loupe for you to inspect a
diamond, which you the consumer have a right to do.

You should also ask to see the GIA certificate or AGS
certificate for your diamond. If they make up excuses or
cannot produce this important diamond grading document,
then you should assume the worst and leave, as they probably
have something to hide.

Avoid synthetic Moissanite diamonds unless that is specifically
what you want. Some jewelers will try to rip you off by claiming
they are real diamonds. To head this off, look through a 10x loupe
and if you see double facets or a doubled diamond table reflection,
then you most likely have a Moissanite synthetic diamond.

A good way to spot Cubic Zirconia fake diamonds is to view a
newspaper placed behind the diamond. If you can read the print,
then it’s a fake Cubic Zirconia diamond. A real diamond scatters
the light so you should not be able to see the news print through
the diamond.

Another trick jewelers can pull on you is to show you a yellow
diamond and claim it’s a nice white diamond because they show
it to you in front of a black background so you cannot easily see
the color. You should also view your diamond in front of a white
background to better detect any yellow coloring in the stone,
and verify it against a color chart.

You also need to avoid jewelry store scams such as pricing
codes. Some jewelers don’t post a price on their diamond rings,
they post a cryptic code which they must decode for you. This
opens up the doorway to deceit and lies. If you look dumb, they
might quote you a much higher price than a buyer who they
know is informed. You should walk out of any jewelry
store that does not post the exact price on the tag.