This is probably the most important day of your life next to you actual wedding day. D day has arrived and you are about to propose. Take a step back in time, you have already decided the obvious that she wants to get engaged and you have found the perfect engagement ring, NO you say? then don’t despair, her are a few simple tips for the perfect proposal and the perfect engagement ring. The task needn’t be daunting. First decide on the perfect ring for her. If you are together for some time you will have a fair idea of the kind of jewelry she prefers. Have no fear Girls the guide is simple but effective.



Budget and the Rule of Thumb

The Rule of thumb is for the groom to be to spend at least 1 and half to 2 times his salary on the perfect engagement ring. This rule is not set in stone in facet it emerged in the late 1900,s when worn torn grooms to be arrived home from the warring countries longing to propose too their girls having had near death experiences. The idea was to set a president for purchasing the perfect diamond for your bride to be.


This was a ploy on behalf of the much under funded jewelry industry to get men to start buying jewelry again. Thankfully this rule doesn’t apply today unless you want it to apply. For most couples the thoughts of buying an engagement ring is a daunting task for most couples when it comes to finding the perfect ring. For most couples this is their first major purchase in jewelry terms. The most important thing is to educate you in the 4C, s. the following is quick guide to buying the perfect Ring. First you most decide on your budget.



Budgetary Considerations

The first thing to decide is exactly how much you have to spend on you r perfect engagement ring and if you are willing to compromise on the choice or not. The higher the carat weight of the diamond and the better the ct and clarity the more expensive the diamond will be ultimately.


This is all easily learned it is very important not to get ripped off and find the best diamond sparkle and lustre for your money. The jewellery industry will not always tell you that a lower carat good quality and good clarity ring will look equally as good as a high carat ring with Ideal cut and a IF or VVSI clarity. If the rule of thumb is one you want to abide by then a 2 month salary is what you will want to spend, this of coarse will depend on the kind of salary your groom to be earns. It is not uncommon for both parties to buy the engagement ring especially if the bride to be want a bling of a ring and is in her own right a high earner.


This is however very uncommon as the groom to be normally buys the ring on whatever salary he can afford. There is nothing romantic about getting yourself into hock for a ring especially if you have a wedding and d home to pay for. Better instead to save 5the money for a romantic honeymoon or a special wedding venue. It is important to start married life bebt –free and free from a noose around your neck just for a bit of bling around your finger. The engagement ring is a symbol of love devotion and commitment not a symbol of one-upmenship or a symbol of affluence.


A simplistic romantic ring in a white gold rose gold or platinum setting with the diamond shape of your choice a princess, assher or marquis shape will look stunning once you know what to look for. Be aware of the pit falls when buying your ring bigger doesn’t always mean better, It is important to find a shape and cut of diamond that will not show and imperfections to the naked aye and will look like it is more bling for your buck. You don’t want to have to delay your dream wedding for a ring that you cannot afford.



To Surprise Or Not To Surprise, That Is the Question

If you’re intended are a true romantic and the thought of you surprising her with a ring in front of family and friends is the perfect proposal then go ahead. If however she is the more practical type and would prefer you both choose the ring and make it a private affaire first then you will know not to surprise her with a ring. It is all common since really if you know a little or a lot about the personality of your girl you will therefore know than kind of engagement show will want ultimately.


It’s a brave man who decides to pick his brides to be perfect ring without her knowing.
If the thought of her surprise all impotent then the surprise is all important, however if the rig is all important then you should think carefully about surprising her. There are websites that allow you to get a ring to do you in the interim purely for the purposes of proposing and allow you to swap the ring for the ring she really wants.


This allows the man to propose without the worry of finding the perfect ring. The proposal ring can then be returned for the ring of her dreams. Firstly and foremost it is worth stating the obvious 1) Does she want to get engaged. 2) Have you chosen the right ring 3) will it fit. As with all expensive jewelry purchases you will need to establish the return policy of the retailer or the online return policy.


Does the jeweler for example alter the ring if it doesn’t free of charge and how long will it take to be returned. Is the website secure with Pay pal for example? Be very careful buying over the internet and make double sure the jewelry website is legitimate and has a code of conduct and an excellent customer care and returns policy.


The internet can be a mine fields for those not aware of the pitfalls as some websites are very sophisticated and can take millions of dollars from unassuming customers.



Do Your Homework

Be a detective and find out form close family and friends the kind of ring she would love. Ask close family members namely the females as her dad and brothers won’t have the first clue. Talk to already engaged girlfriends or married friends of hers to find out what kind of ring she loves. If her friends are engaged or indeed married they will know if their rings are her preferred choice but be careful as your bride to be might have told her friends she loved their ring choices just to be polite.


It is worth taking a look at her jewelry box to find out the kind of metal she prefers like white gold or platinum for example. The preferred choice for today is generally white gold or platinum or palladium. White gold is less durable than platinum making it less expensive but less durable it is fine for everyday day wear ant tear and can be altered easily. Platinum and palladium are the most durable metals for engagement ring and are more expensive and harder to alter if need be.


The shape of the diamond is what the next consideration along with the setting is. The round diamond is always in fashion and is a timeless shape for all brides to be but the cut of the round diamond is unforgiving to inclusions and imperfections alike. The larger shapes of diamond such as the Asscher or square Princess cut all for less cutting for the shape and will make a smaller carat weight diamond look bigger and more expensive than it is.



Keeping the Secret Safe

As with all secrets the less people know the better, that way they won’t inadvertently let the cat out of the bag as it were. Do your research online that way you have privacy and you wont have to worry about bumping into to her on you lunch break in the jewerly store or make excuses to friends you haven’t told of your big surprise.


The internet will allow you to browse unencumbered by sales staff but still allow you to ask questions via Email or live chat or indeed phone call. The internet is fool proof as they give you guides for diamond buying and charts that allow you to choose from your budget and will instruct you in the Cut, Carat, Colour and Clarity of the diamond every step of the way. The internet allows you to shop all over the diamond capitals of the world and read testimonials from happy and unhappy customers alike.



Match The Ring with her Own Style and Personality

It is important that the ring is a symbol of your bride to be personality ns since of self and since of personal style. Some web site jewelers will allow you to design your very own engagement ring from scratch or choose a ready made on or a diamond and ring setting of your choice. For the males among you a web site like James Allen cleverly allows you to see the ring in all its glory in 3D Format and show you the ring in Technicolor on the ring finger of your would be bride. The shape of finger is also important and a slender or rounder finger will require a certain shape of diamond.


For example the round solitaire diamond will suit all shapes and sizes of finger and is timeless; the newer fashionable shapes like the Assche, Marquis or Princess cuts will have to have some consideration. A 1, 2, or 3 stone rings will also depend on taste or style and shape of finger for example a petite slender ring finger might look over whelmed with a 3 stone ring instead of a solitaire.


A simplistic solitaire diamond with accented stones in a channel setting will look stunning for extra bling. It is worth saying a diamond ring with smaller stones in an invisible setting will look much the same a big solitaire ring but will be considerable less. The Princess or square set shaped diamonds will lend themselves well to a lot of smaller diamonds set close together for a single some look., this wont work understandable with a around solitaire ring.


A solitaire ring with a smaller carat diamond can look stunning accented with similar diamonds to give that extra look of bling. The cut of the diamond is very important and will allow for wastage in terms of the cutters ability to shape the diamond. The more intricate the cut the more brilliant the diamond and the more wastage in terms of diamond size.


The kind of ring should depict the kind of woman you are about to marry is she outgoing and loves the bling or is she more subtle and understated in her glamour. Is she more Eco-friendly and aware of causes like blood diamonds if so you will need to be more specific with your diamond choice.


The woman should represent the diamond and vice versa. Another idea is to bring her to a jewelry store under pretence and say you shopping for a nice timepiece I guarantee no woman will be able to escape the allure of sparkling diamonds under al well lit jewelry case, its just mesmerising the a appeal of a sparkling diamond that leaves girls in a trance like state.




Choosing the ring setting

As stated the most common metals are white gold platinum and lastly rose gold. This will entirely depend on the preference of each bride to be and in some cases the age of the bride to be or the previous history of ring wearing, by this I mean has she been engaged before if so she will ultimately choose a ring that looks nothing like the previous ring and one that is unique to the both of you and your lies together. Two tone metals are all the rage and different metal bands like the ones made by Krikawa U.S.A they make beautiful ring bands in beautiful summer colourful shades with different metals of White, Sahara,
Tricolours and many more. Their unique approach knocks spots of their competitors in terms of uniqueness and style. Their Firemark Princess Cut diamonds ensure you get the most brilliantly sparkling diamond there is to buy with a certified guarantee from the GIA.


It is now possible in this day and age to tell the gold smith and diamond cutters exactly the kind of ring you want and have a truly unique ring instead of buying from ready made ones that don’t display your personality. For the men too there are excellent choices of engagement or Mengagement ring on the market for the more forward thing man who isn’t afraid to show his love for his bride to be with a matching or unique ring of his own.
His and Her Rings.


If your intended doesn’t mind you stealing a little of her thunder and spotlight on the night you might want to choose engagement rings together it is good enough for the like of the famous Michael Buble then its good enough for the rest of us mere mortals. The new trend is for both parties to show their love and commitment by getting engaged together, however this trend is on the uprise it is not the norm for most blokes who
prefer to stay out of the spotlight and let the girl wear the ring and get all of the attention.


Most men don’t wear much jewelry and for some the wearing of a wedding ring will be their only jewelry purchase for life. For the Metro sexual men out there who aren’t afraid to wear tan moisturizer and go the salon an engagement rings with a bit of bling light be right up their street in style terms.


There is a multitude to choose from as the jewelry world has cottoned on to men since of fashion and style when it comes to jewelry purchasing. For couples in a same sex union there is a vast array of engagement ring with bling to choose from. For the heterosexual man about town who wants s to make his bride to be happy there are some very masculine rings to choose from with matching wedding bands



Picking The Engagement Ring


A diamond ring engagement is probably the singularly most important thing you will ever purchase. It is therefore imperative that you educate your self in the 4C, s the Cut, Clarity, Colour and Carat weight of the diamond to get value for money. You want the best looking ring for your money and the best you can afford on a budget.


It is important not to pay for the things you don’t see like paying for a high clarity of or (F) or (IF) for example which are the cleanest value you can buy but this wont be visible to the naked or untrained eye. The carat weight is another thing to keep in mind a lower carat weight will reduce the value of a diamond dramatically from a 1, 2 or rarer a 3. The Cut however and the clarity are very important for the outer appearance of the diamond your buying.



The Cut

The Cut of the diamond is not the same as the shape of the diamond. The shape of the diamond is the outer appearance of the diamond to the naked eye. The Cut of the diamond often refers to is the way the light reflects off of the diamond a good cut diamond will reflect and add to the shine and brilliance of the diamond. A cut diamond will have the light bounce off of it perfectly.


The diamond cut is probably the most important if not thee most important of the 4C, s. The value of the diamond like the carat weight of the diamond will dictate the price ultimately. The angles of the diamond whether it is a popular round or the new princess cut will need t have depth and precision cuts to give it brilliance and brightness.


The natural light should flow freely through the diamond from side to side and back through the diamond t give it its ultimate sparkle all brides to be look for in their perfect ring. An ideal cut diamond will allow the light enter the diamond and not flow through the bottom of the diamond a poorer cut diamond will lose the light out of the deeply cut base of the diamond, so you see the cut is probably the most important thing to look for in your perfect diamond.


A good level of proportions will make for a good diamond as a good gemmologist will attest. The depth and the diameter should be equal in proportions to maximise the brilliance of the diamond to bring out its true sparkle and lustre. The grading methods of determining the cut of your diamond are as follows.

1) Ideal
2) Premium
3) Good
4) Fair
5) Poor


What Grade to Pick

The Grade will depend on your budgetary allowances and your preferences. A quick description might help with your choice and make for the perfect diamond ring. The tips shown are just guidelines and are not compulsory for you.
The Ideal Cut.


This cut is the preferred choice and is the top of the table in terms of choice, some website jewelry sites will give you their professional opinion as to the better choice of cut, clarity, colour and carat with a table to pick from and determine the final price. The brilliance or “Fire” as it is sometimes known it at its best with an ideal cut.

Some sites such as the James Allen Site will have a higher cut called” True Hearts “or Fire mark a grade of brilliance from the GCLA and Excellence in Symmetry and Polish from the GIA. Fire Mark diamonds are said to look 10% larger than ordinary diamonds of the same carat weight and cut.


The Facets of the diamonds are perfectly aligned and the depths are shallower for brilliance and light reflective properties. The Patented double crown of the Fire Mark diamonds are distinctive in that the angles are like no other in terms of pricyness. This category is generally applied to the round or princess diamonds.


The Premium Cut

This cut is just below that of the ideal cut already talked about. The shape of diamond will detect the cut generally the round shaped diamonds will require an ideal or a Premium cut for pure brilliance. The cut of the diamond and the higher chart applications are for the true consumer who know their diamonds and appreciates the brilliance and lustre of a truly beautiful diamond.


Reputable diamond sellers will not sell a diamond below the recommended cut on the chart for customer satisfaction purposes. If you want a truly sparkling conversation stopper of a diamond the higher cut levels are for you. The higher level cuts will give maximum brilliance and reflective properties that are important for a beautiful blinging diamond.



Very Good Diamonds

These kinds of diamonds will reflect the light well and allow the light to enter the diamond for a fair amount of brilliance. With these diamonds the proportions are bigger asking cutting for bigger diamonds allowing for a bigger diamond to be cut. These diamonds will just fall short of customer preference in terms of the depth and diameter and the girdle width.


The width of some of these diamonds will be similar to some in the premium cut diamonds and therefore the price of these diamonds will be lower or more reasonable priced. For some customers the importance of the cut is less than the importance than the budgetary reduction. These diamonds mean the diamond cutter hasn’t stayed true to the exact diameter and depth or girdle measurements dictated by the premium or ideal cuts making the diamond less conservatively measured and dispersed.



Good Cut Diamonds

These diamonds like the afore mentioned very good cut diamonds will reflect the light. With this cut there is less wastage than normal this will apply with the squarer cut diamonds or the assher or marquis shapes where the cut of the diamond isn’t wasted and more of the original diamond is used. This method mean the largest possible diamond is able to be developed.



Fair and Poor Diamonds

Most reputable diamond seller will not sell you a poor quality or poorly cut diamond as the light enters the diamond and leaks out of the bottom of the diamond for a poor sparkle and luster quality. The Gemologists will tell you a good diamond will have good proportioned facets to allow the quality of the diamond to naturally flow through the shape and outward to allow for maximum brilliance and shine. The depth and the diameter of the diamond should be the same.


Poorer cut diamonds are cut to maximize their carat weight and not their brilliance. If your considerations are for a big carat weight diamond than you can choose a poorer cut diamond that will felicitate this but be careful and mindful of the cut and the lower level on the table of diamond anatomy. If you are at a loss as most of us lay people are recommended you find a jeweler that will recommend a diamond cut and will stand behind it with a certified guarantee.



The Color

The perfect Diamond is colorless clear and transparent in actual fact a totally c colorless transparent gem is very rare and difficult if not impossible to find. The hue or color of the diamond can ether add or subtract from the diamonds quality and coloration. A colorless diamond or white diamond is more expensive than diamond with a yellow hue to it ironically a pink or blue diamonds are very expensive and red diamonds are very rare and much sought after.

Colored diamonds have structural impurities that cause the discoloration. The intensity to which diamonds are formed under ground affects the color of the finished article. The grading process of diamonds starts at D straight through the alphabet. The true colorless diamonds are of a D grading. The clearer and colorless the diamond the more expensive it is.



The Clarity

Not to be confused with the color of the diamond the clarity is the level of inclusions the purity of the diamond the way the light is dispersed through the diamond. All diamonds contain some elements of non-crystallized carbon from which they were formed. The majority of inclusions or imperfections is undated table to the naked eye and therefore no considered by the lay person.


A large percentage of inclusions will interfere with the light dispersement and the over all sparkle of the diamond therefore the principle rules of diamond purchase are the cut and the clarity. Altough clarity is important is worth mentioning that you should not pay for something you cannot see. If you cant see the inclusions and you’re the one looking at the diamond day in day out then nobody else will either.


Diamond clarity grading starts at F meaning flawless. Form F Up to I3 small inclusions which are t visible to the naked eye. The grading process goes from F,IF,VVS1,VVS2,VVS,VS SI SI2 {I1,I2 and I3 meaning inclusions visible to the naked eye. It is important to pay for what you can see and not what you can’t see, a diamond with a VVS or SI grading is perfectly fine.


Most reputable jewelry makers or sellers will never recommend a diamond clarity in the {I1,I2 or I3} grades. Diamonds in the VVS and VS grades are perfect for value for money in that your not paying for what you cant see. All diamonds with “a clean eye” grade are fine for invisible inclusions. The choice is a personal one for everybody once you have the information at hand and you can make an informed choice.



The Diamond Carat Weight

This is the weight of the diamond which does not surprisingly affect the size of the diamond. The size of the diamond for the lay person is generally viewed from the top of the diamond where it has been mounted as opposed from the sides and from the cut grade. Just as a person’s weight doesn’t reflect their height the carat weight doesn’t reflect the diamond size.


The distance across the top of the diamond is taken into consideration as well as the diamonds cut grade in terms of the Ideal cut to a Poor Cut. The cut is taken into consideration because this refers to the depth and the diameter of the diamond the way the diamond is cut reflect the light and the proportion value of the diamond.


The cut is probably the most important consideration when choosing a diamond because it affects the overall look of the diamond and the ability of the diamond to sparkle and shine to its fullest. The Smart Girl thing to do is to choose a lower Carat Diamond with a high Cut value to allow the diamond to look bigger than it actually is. The carat diamond weight is all fine if you can get a cut and clarity value to match. In most cases the carat weight is not the most important consideration.


A larger carat weight diamond with a poorer cut will not look as spectacular as a lower carat weight diamond with a high cut and average clarity value. A diamond with a VVS2 cut in a color grade of I or J will give great value for money and a clean clear diamond. The size of your ring finger will determine the size of the diamond also a smaller size of a 3 or 4 will look fine in a 1.5 than a larger finger and a shape of a princess or Asscher accented channel set diamond will look larger than a single solitaire. Smaller diamonds set invisibly together will look larger than a solitaire and will be far less expensive.


The setting you choose for your diamond will also help to show case it and show it off to its fullest potential. When choosing your perfect diamond remember do your homework before hand the jewelry stores wont necessarily tell you how to save money by buying the best bling for your buck and not all assistants are qualified to know the difference between the shape of the diamond and the cut for example.


It is important not to go into a diamond transaction with out the relevant information to help you make and informed decision. This is after all the most expensive transaction in jewelry terms you are ever likely to make so make the right one. The fun is in trying on all of the rings in the shop with your true love after all you didn’t choose him over night so why choose the ring that is to represent your love for each other over night.


Make it a fun day out that you will remember for many years to come and bring some treats for your intended just to keep his enthusiasm levels up. Promise him a trip to his favorite pass time as an incentive and wear flat shoes for the shopping track. Research the best diamond for your budget go to websites go into retail shops try on all of the styles shapes and different accented styles for your ring finger as well as your own sense of style and budget. Good Luck and Happy Diamond Shopping, after all “Diamonds truly are A Girls Best Friend”.