Buying Tips:

A diamond gem is nothing more than a rock that has been faceted and polished by a diamond cutter. It is a crystal that was made by intense pressure in the earth’s crust and is known to be the hardest crystal ever naturally made. It may have been created millions of years ago, but in its raw form it’s nothing more than a dirty looking crystal rock you wouldn’t think could be worth much. Most hold no real value until man cuts and shapes value into the stone. The money you spend is getting you a work of art.

While a cut stone holds value, don’t buy it as an investment; buy it for its beauty. Buying a diamond as part of engagement ring is not a necessity. It may be society’s standard, but that’s not the law and you should never be afraid to be unique. Certainly a diamond is popular, but plenty of other gemstones are just as suitable for an engagement ring. You, and your partner, are the ones that get to make this decision. If you do choose to go with a diamond, here are some ground rules.

In this section you will find information to help you know what you are buying. We have designed this area to help the diamond shopper that doesn't even know where to begin. We will provide both facts and our opinions to help you get what you need to be happy. If it’s going to be diamond, it is supposed to be forever, so listen up.

Diamonds are broken down into something called 4c’s. That’s carat weight, clarity, color, and cut. Carat weight is the actual weight of the diamond. This could have been called size. The higher the carat weight, the bigger the diamond. For an engagement ring, we personally recommend going no less then a half carat.

Clarity is extremely important in a diamond. There’s a lot of junk out there, don’t get something the two of you will be unhappy with. If you stick to nothing less than SI-2, you are going to be in good shape. SI grade diamonds are the most popular and affordable in engagement rings. If possible, get in the VS range if you want something that will hold value and be considered investment grade. Remember, don’t buy it as an investment, buy it for beauty. Investment grade simply means that it holds a higher value worldwide.

Color has it’s place too. Most people want a diamond that looks white, so don’t buy anything lower than N. If you can get something in the D-I range, you’ll probably be happier with your purchase. The bigger the stone (carat weight), the more yellow tint you’ll notice as you move down the color scale.

Cut should be graded as no less than good. The brightness and sparkle of a diamond greatly diminishes if diamond proportions are not optimal. There are a million characteristics in the cut department and I'm not going to waste our time covering exact percentage numbers, but if you look for a cut grade of good or better, you will be in good shape.