Photo by Syda Productions at Shutterstock
Whether you believe as Marilyn Monroe did that “Diamonds are a girls’ best friend.” or as Richard Burton that a “diamond has so many carats it’s almost a turnip”, you are likely at some point in your life to either buy an engagement ring or receive one.
Outside of buying a car or house, purchasing engagement rings is going to be one of the most expensive purchases you will make. If you have never brought any sort of diamond ring before, it can be a daunting and even scary prospect for the uninitiated.
Do not worry help is at hand. Since 1951 Matheu’s Fine Watches & Jewelry of Denver, CO. have been offering advice about engagement rings. We have knowledgeable and understanding staff ready to help you.
If you want to buy the perfect ring for that special person then come to Matheu’s Fine Watches & Jewelry of Denver, CO.
The Four C’s
To protect all buyers and sellers of gemstones the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) established the 4Cs – Color, Clarity, Cut, and Carat Weight. So, everybody can understand how each factor influences the overall appearance of the diamond and ultimately, its value. Remember this ring will be on your loved ones’ finger for the rest of their life. It is vital they like wearing it.
Color
Diamonds are valued on color, the less color the greater the value. A scale from D to Z is used, a D diamond has no color and a Z diamond the most, (with yellow to brown colors). To aid with grading the diamond is often compared with master stones in a controlled environment.
The diamond’s color is harder to detect once it is set in engagement rings. For example, a yellow gold ring will offset a more yellow-colored diamond. But if it is set in white gold or platinum any color in the diamond will become more obvious.
Clarity
Natural diamonds are formed deep in the earth. Carbon needs to be heated to over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit and placed under extreme pressure of 725,000 pounds per square inch. They are formed quickly and brought violently to the surface through volcanic eruptions. It is not surprising that there are small imperfections in most diamonds.
A diamond’s clarity refers to the number and size of imperfections in the stone. The clarity scale used by the GIA has 11 levels from flawless FL to I3. I3 has the most visible flaws and only 1 in 5000 jewelry quality diamonds are graded FL.
A photograph cannot catch the nuances of clarity, so the GIA uses a diamond plot to map a diamond’s interior and exterior defects. These defects will include chips and depressions on the surface of the diamond, mineral deposits, and small fractures inside the diamond.
Cut
The beauty of a diamond depends more on cut than any other factor. It refers to the diamond’s dimensions, symmetry, and polish. The GIA cut scale ranges from Excellent – Very Good – Good – Fair -Poor. Of all the 4Cs Cut is the hardest to quantify. The GIA uses seven factors to determine a diamond’s cut: brightness, fire, scintillation, weight ratio, girdle thickness, and polish. The determination of cut of an engagement ring is a highly skilled process, one performed by Matheu’s professional staff.
Carat Weight
Carat weight is perhaps the easiest C to define. It is simply the weight of the diamond. A metric carat is 200 milligrams.
It is important to remember that the value of engagement rings depends on all the 4Cs. For example, a two-carat diamond will not necessarily cost twice as much as a one-carat diamond. The color, clarity, and cut will also need to be factored in.
For a diamond cutter, it may be tempting to not cut the diamond very deeply. This will leave a bigger diamond with a larger Carat weight. Cutting it deeper will leave a smaller diamond but have a higher grade of cut.
Engagement Rings – Other Factors in the Decision Making.
Ring Setting
There is little point in buying an expensive diamond only to have it set in a cheap-looking ring. We only stock the best quality engagement rings at Matheu’s Fine Watches & Jewelry. You can be safe in the knowledge that you will be buying the best,
Budget
It used to be said that you needed to spend three months of your salary on buying engagement rings. This is not so, we at Matheu’s have beautiful engagement rings for every budget and style as well as generous financing options. But it is a good idea to set a budget beforehand.
Think About Bringing Your Partner with You
Granted this option means you lose the element of surprise, but it means that you get the right ring.
Customizing an Engagement Ring
Matheu specializes in customizing engagement rings but remember If you want to propose on a certain date, make sure you start your planning for the ring beforehand. Depending upon what you order, it could take a couple of weeks to set the stone, engrave it, and customize it.
Why Choose Matheu’s Fine Watches & Jewelry
As you can see in this article, there are many factors to consider and look out for. Most people are not experts in diamonds. An unscrupulous salesperson could take advantage of people’s ignorance and naivety.
We are a family firm and believe in being open, honest, and transparent with all our customers. Buying an engagement ring is one of the most important decisions that an individual can make and we want to help them decide which is the best ring for them.
To this end, we offer free appraisals from our certified Gemologists. We at Matheu’s Fine Watches & Jewelry will resize your ring in the first year. We will refinish your ring with rhodium plating free of charge within the first year. We will be happy to check your stones and prongs every six months to ensure all is secure. We have many happy and satisfied customers just check our ratings on Google.
