Brought to you by Voltaire Diamonds.
You can’t go wrong with these pro tips.
Are you planning to pop the question? If so, you’ve probably practised going down on one knee, worked on your pitch and you’re pretty certain that your other half will say yes. Now it’s time to focus on the ring.
Up until now, the closest you’ve come to buying a ring was renting the Asian horror flick in an Xtra-vision store. Well, we’re here to help you avoid a horror show when it comes to choosing an engagement ring. We talked to Voltaire Diamonds founder, Seamus Fahy, to get some top tips on picking a perfect ring.
Here’s what you need to know.
1. Knowledge is power
If we’re honest, most of us aren’t best-placed to pick out jewellery for our other halves. Should you go for a contemporary style or something more traditional? Do they like white gold, yellow gold, rose gold or platinum? If you didn’t know that there are different colours of gold, you do now!
If they don’t wear jewellery, you may need to look at their general fashion sense to get some pointers, according to Seamus.
“Does she have a distinct personal style – laid back or glamorous?” asks Seamus. “All the information you can provide about your loved one is helpful to your consultant. When you’ve made the decision to propose, listen to all the hints you can get! Does she like the simplicity of her best friend’s ring? Or the art deco appeal of her sister’s?”
2. See to the four Cs
The four Cs might sound like a barbershop quartet but they’re actually the most important things to consider when selecting a diamond. Buckle up as we take you on a crash course in diamond shopping!
“Get familiar with the four Cs of buying a diamond – colour, cut, clarity, and carat,” says Seamus. “It’s one of the most important factors of the whole process. These four guys will be wholly responsible for the price you will be coming out with in the end.”
That last line probably got your attention! These are the things that dictate the price and quality of the stone so you need to know what they mean.
“Colour ranges from D (colourless) to Z (strong yellow tints),” he explains. “D to F are colourless, whereas G to H are near colourless. A diamond with less colour will exhibit more fire and brilliance and therefore be of greater value.”
We’ve all heard about the cut of a diamond but it turns out that a lot of us don’t know what it means.
“This is often mistaken as being the shape of the diamond or gemstone. The cut instead denotes how the stone was crafted from its natural state and dictates how light passes through the stone.” You learn something new every day.
Clarity will make a big difference to value and cost.
“Clarity ranges from flawless to naturally included,” adds Seamus “A mere 1% of the world’s diamonds are naturally flawless, which means no inclusions or visible marks are visible to the naked eye. The less included the diamond, the more valuable it is and, in turn, the more expensive.”
The final consideration is the carat.
“Without a doubt, the most visually apparent factor when shopping for a diamond is the carat. The carat of a diamond or gemstone is a measure of weight. So one carat is equal to 0.2 grams!”
3. Don’t be afraid of gemstones
Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend but what’s seldom is also wonderful. The point is that more and more people are choosing an alternative to diamonds for their engagement ring.
“We are seeing a lot of influence from the States, where increasing numbers of people are opting for sapphire, emerald and ruby engagement rings as opposed to the traditional diamond,” says Seamus.
If you take a punt on a gemstone ring but discover that your partner really wanted a diamond, you don’t have to worry. Seamus says that Voltaire Diamonds will look after you and offer an exchange for a ring of the same value.
4. Get to know your ring styles
There are ring styles? Yes, there are. You wouldn’t buy a new motor without knowing a thing or two about car makes so why buy a ring without finding out what you’re looking at.
Solitaires, halos and trilogy rings may sound like computer games but they’re actually just ring styles. Do your homework and you’ll be better placed to know the right ring when you see it.
5. Don’t overpromise with the token ring
If you’re planning to propose with a token ring, go with something that’s humble and understated. You don’t want to present your other half with a giant rock made out of glass that will dwarf the actual ring when you get it.
6. Consider the wedding ring
It may seem a bit early to think about the wedding ring but it’s an important part of the process. A wedfit engagement ring is one that’s designed to accommodate a wedding ring. Every day’s a school day, eh?
“Although your consultant will go through all of this with you when it comes to choosing the ring, it is always a good idea to check if a straight wedding band fits snugly into your chosen engagement ring,” explains Seamus. “A bespoke wedding band is not uncommon though and it’s an option that many woman and men may choose to go with if there is a particular design you like at the time of buying, or might have in mind to make up.”
7. Go to a reliable seller
A ring is a big investment so be careful where you buy it. This is one of those times when online shopping isn’t a good thing. Choose a trustworthy seller with a good reputation, who can give you a personalised service and walk you through the process. An experienced seller can help you to find the best option in your budget and take the mystery out of ring shopping.
Voltaire Diamonds provides a one-to-one personal consultation service that is focused on you, your partner and your budget. Their trained and fully-qualified personal consultants tailor the process to you and have years of experience in helping men pick out the perfect ring.
Brought to you by Voltaire Diamonds.
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