Choosing Diamond Engagement Rings

Sam’s Club is happy to offer an assortment of beautiful diamond engagement rings. Your engagement and wedding makes for a truly magical time in your life, and purchasing wedding rings can be a memorable part of it. Your wedding and engagement rings should be with you for the rest of your life, so it’s important to take the time to choose rings you’ll love for the long term. The following information will help you make the right decisions as you purchase diamond engagement rings.

Engagement Ring Considerations: The Diamond

As with all diamond jewelry, engagement rings are subject to the “4 Cs” of diamond buying: cut, clarity, color, and carat weight.

The cut of the diamond in an engagement ring determines how much light the diamond reflects. Cost and brilliance are usually contingent on the cut’s rating. Diamond cut ratings ascend from poor, fair, good, very good, and ideal (the highest rating).

The color of the diamond in engagement rings refers to the amount of color that the stone has (the less color the better). The diamond color rating system ranges from D (absolutely colorless) to J (color slightly detectable). Gemologists do not place any lower diamond color grades than J in high regard, but the ultimate decision about what color of diamond is most desirable is always a matter of your personal preference.

The clarity of a diamond refers to how many flaws the diamond has, and how visible each of these flaws is to the naked eye. The rating system for diamond clarity goes from F (flawless – which is rare), to IF (internally flawless), to VVS1 and VVS2 (very small flaws or “inclusions”), VS1 and VS2 (very small inclusions that are practically invisible to the naked eye), SI1 and SI2 (slightly included), and I1, 2, and 3 (included, very-visible flaws). The clarity of the diamond chosen for engagement rings is often largely a matter of budget.

Perhaps the most familiar of the 4 Cs is diamond carat weight. The carat weight of a diamond refers to the weight and size of the stone(s) within engagement rings. The prices of rings usually increase with the weight of the diamond because the larger the diamond is, the less common it is to find one like it.

Engagement Ring Considerations: Precious Metals

The look of different diamond engagement rings varies considerably depending upon the precious metal used. There are a number of metals you can choose between for diamond rings. In recent years, platinum has become a very popular choice for engagement rings. It is an extremely strong and durable metal. Platinum also lends a sleek, sophisticated look to diamond rings. White gold provides a look similar to platinum, but it is a softer metal. Yellow gold is an eternal classic for engagement rings; its rich color complements the sparkle of a ring’s diamonds.

Engagement Ring Considerations: The Setting

Diamond engagement rings come in three main settings:

• Diamond solitaire rings are a very popular choice as engagement rings. The solitaire setting for diamond rings features the stone in the center with prongs surrounding the diamond to expose it to the most light.
• Sidestone diamond settings present another option for engagement rings. These settings have additional diamonds or gemstones wrapped around the rings to provide extra shine and glamour.
• If you’d like for your wedding and engagement rings to coordinate closely, diamond bridal sets might be the choice for you. Bridal sets incorporate rings that are designed to fit together and complement one another on the bride’s finger for a beautiful, united look.

Things to Know about Diamond Engagement Rings

• It is always very difficult to buy diamond rings for someone else. If you are looking at diamond engagement rings for your prospective fiancée, try to get an idea of her style preferences. Take a look at other rings she owns and see which diamond rings she favors in stores and magazines. When you’ve prepared in this way, you’ll be ready to choose an engagement ring she’ll love.
• Diamond engagement rings should include a certificate from a respected, third-party gemological lab when purchased. The GIA and AGSL are two well-respected gem and diamond institutes.
• The most important style choice when it comes to engagement rings may be the cut of the diamond. The cut is what really makes an aesthetic difference for rings. There are a number of diamond shapes to choose for engagement rings. Some of these choices include princess, round, emerald, oval, radiant, and pear.

Now that you’re armed with some valuable information about purchasing diamond engagement rings, you’re ready to start browsing the great selection and great prices you’ll find on engagement rings with Sam’s Club!