Congratulations! You have done the easy part already—you have already picked the one you want to spend the rest of your life with—now you need to select the perfect engagement ring for her and we are honored to help you out! Whether you are planning on selecting a ring by yourself or you are going ring shopping together as a couple, here are three main factors you will want to consider when looking at the many choices of engagement rings: The 4 C’s with emphasis on Cut, which Metal to choose, and what type of Setting to mount the beautiful diamond in.

1. The 4 C’s: Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight…a quick review!

This diamond is going to be the centerpiece of the engagement ring so it is therefore the most important to consider when examining all of the choices available. The most traditional stone for an engagement ring is a Round diamond although there are many other choices including Princess, Emerald, Asscher, Marquise, Oval, Radiant, Pear, Heart, and Cushion.  No matter which shape you choose, it is extremely important that you get a good Cut. As stated before, the proper depth, table, and overall “make” of the diamond are what draws the eye with its sparkle, scintillation, and beauty. Our diamonds are scrutinized and selected first and foremost for the cut then we focus on the color, clarity, and carat weight.

As for Color, the scale starts with D (the highest and most valuable) and goes down to Z (least valuable, tinged yellow or brown) with a spectrum of shading in between.  Clarity is based on the diamonds inclusions (natural imperfections). The less visible the inclusions are under 10x magnification then the higher the clarity. It is not necessary to go with Flawless, however the more inclusions there are, the more the light that is traveling within the stone, the less beauty, scintillation, and sparkle will result.

Lastly is the Carat Weight of the diamond. A diamond is measured by points (100 points equals to one carat). The most traditional size for an engagement ring is a one carat diamond however budget and the size of her hand determine how practical that is. We will sit down and discuss with you which is the best size of diamond for you to go with based on where you feel comfortable. You can feel confident that we will not be pushy to you in any way to buy the diamond we think you should. We will simply present the information and let you decide. After almost three decades in business we feel that this is the best way to build lasting relationships with our valued customers.

2. Metal 

There are two traditional metals from which to choose to place your diamond in—Platinum (white in appearance) and Gold (available in white or yellow).  Here are some of their differences.

• Platinum:  The rarest and most valuable of the two metals.  Though it is more expensive it is often misinterpreted as being better than gold. Although platinum does not need to be rhodium plated like white gold, it is more subject to damage based on normal wear due to its pliability. Platinum is more pliable than gold because of its purity; most platinum consists of 95% pure platinum and 5% iridium.
  

• Gold:  The most common metal for jewelry is gold (in either 14k or 18k) not only because it is less expensive than platinum, but because it is the most lustrous metal and it is a stronger metal that requires less maintenance. Pure gold is 24k and is too soft to hold stones safely so alloy is added to give strength to the structure; 14k is 58% pure gold and 18k is 75% pure gold (the rest of the content is alloy). Since white gold has nickel as its alloy, it appears “off-white” in color and it must be rhodium plated periodically to maintain its white-as-platinum appearance. Some are allergic to the nickel alloy so in that case they are forced to choose platinum.  
  

3. Setting (or Mounting)

There are many different setting styles for your center stone and we have plenty of settings ready to go when you come in or we can custom create something one-of-a-kind. Either way you will by no means have a shortage of choices.  With that said, here are a few of the more common styles to consider before you do your shopping.

• Solitaire Setting:  This is one of the most popular engagement ring settings.  This is a simple band that showcases the diamond alone.  Depending on the shape of the stone the solitaire can either be designed with a four or six prong setting. When choosing which will be best for you we discuss the lifestyle of the person who will be wearing the ring and try to make the perfect match. Either way we make sure that the diamond remains secure.  A solitaire setting is often chosen when a man wants to propose but does not want to commit to a setting style.  We will be glad to reset the diamond into a different setting later if you both decide on another style. 
  

• Three-stone Setting:  Also known as the “Past, Present, Future” setting where the two side diamonds represent the past and the present and the center diamond represents the future, this ring symbolizes what marriage is all about, your future together.  This setting is a simple style that will never go out of style and at the same time mean the world to the one you love.
  

• Side-Stone Setting:  This setting style really allows for creativity and imagination with many options and a variety of looks.  You can choose to have the side-stones placed in a channel setting where the diamonds are recessed in the walls in either a straight of curved line (somewhat modern style), in a pavé setting where the stones are slightly submerged into the ring and held by tiny prongs (almost antique style), or you can choose to have the side-stones set in a traditional prong setting where each diamond is secured in their own position with their own prongs, or you can choose a very modern style like a flush setting such as bezel or burnish where the stones look like they are almost melted flush into the ring.

• Matching Band Setting: If a wedding band is planned to go with the engagement ring, you might consider a matching band setting from the start.  Matching bridal sets are designed to fit together on one finger with many options from which to choose.  They are often made to match but can be worn separately, and some are separate rings that are elaborately designed to fit like a puzzle and meant to be worn together.