"Because diamonds have a higher refractive rate, the cut of the two stones should be slightly different to optimize their brilliance."

Diamond Engagement Ring: A Womans Best Friend


Follow the Four Cs of Diamond Quality and Stay within your Budget

After heavy advertising in the US in the 1940s, especially by De Beers, the diamond engagement ring became established as the choice for most Americans and became the standard of Western culture, when it came to picking an engagement ring.

At first, the diamond engagement ring was affordable only to the upper classes and aristocracy but gradually they became more affordable and later became available to even the middle classes. In fact, the first recorded instance of the diamond engagement ring was when the Archduke Maximillian of Austria presented it to Mary of Burgundy way back in 1477, as a betrothal gift.

Classic diamond engagement rings consist of the diamond itself as well as the setting. For best value, the setting that one thinks will best suit the woman should be chosen first, and then the budget should take care of cost of the diamond that is most affordable. When considering the amount to spend on the diamond engagement ring remember that it is an emotional event and that the purchase will be once in a lifetime that should last forever. As convention dictates, spending two months salary on the diamond engagement ring should be sufficient, though the most important consideration is, of course, the quality and value of the diamond engagement ring.

Sometimes the diamond engagement ring that one chooses needs to be kept a secret and for this, the man may need to consult the jeweler to find the best ring that will be of the right size as well as suit the womans taste. The diamond engagement ring may be the biggest purchase that a man will ever make for his partner so he will need to get all the right information about the diamonds and settings as well as size so that it will bedazzle the wearer.

To begin with, one should decide upon what shape would the partner prefer and these include round, oval, princess-cut, emerald-cut, Asscher-cut, marquise-cut, radiant-cut, pear-shaped as well as heart-shaped diamonds. In spite of so many different shapes to choose from, the most popular shape is the round diamond, followed by the princess-cut.

Following the selection of shape is the need to get the size of the ring that will be within your budget and for this; there will always be a lot of sizes available for every budget. Last, but in no way least, is the need to follow the four Cs of diamond quality and these are cut, color, clarity and carat weight.

Vintage Engagement Ring An Attractive Choice

The third category is the synthetic colored diamond.

His & Her Rings

freshphotography posted a photo:

"Right after the diamond, this stone is always the best choice, and usually nowadays many people buy it together with platinum or white gold rings."