When choosing an engagement ring, every would-be husband thinks that he must choose a diamond based on the cut and the colour alone. Well, he is mistaken with that one.

It is true that one must choose the right cut of diamond for an engagement ring. Engagement rings are usually studded with the conventional and conservative round-shaped diamond. Teardrop diamond cuts and other non-traditional cuts are meant for other pieces of jewellery such as necklaces, tiaras, brooches and bracelets.

True also is the fact that a diamond's colour should also be considered when choosing the right stone for the engagement ring. The price range for diamonds varies as it is graded from the yellowish diamond to the colorless grades. The more colorless a diamond is, the more a groom would have to shell out for the engagement ring.

However, basing your decision based on cut and colour alone is not enough. There are still two more factors to consider that will add to a learned purchasing decision. These are the diamond's clarity and carat.

The Clarity

The clarity of a diamond is determined by the internal fractures, presence of impurities which might cloud the crystal, inclusions such as specs of other minerals, cleanliness and polish in the diamond. Clarity of a diamond ranges from flawless (perfect) to I (included). This determines how clear the diamond is.

The Carat

The carat weight determines the value of the stone or answers the question of how big the diamond is. The larger the diamond, the costlier the engagement ring's price will be. When deciding which diamond to purchase, always get the actual point size and not the fractional weight of the diamond.

The size of a diamond has a great impact on its value. It is in India where the first diamonds were discovered and traded and came the use the term "carat". Carat comes from India's ancient practice of measuring diamond weights in nature that is both small by using a carob seed.

The standard unit for a diamond's weight is 0.20 gram. There are several ways in expressing a carat:

1 ct.

200 milligrams

1/5 gram

100 points

4 grainer (not often used in retail environment)

The carat weight of the diamond has the biggest influence in the overall price of the engagement ring. Prices of diamonds are conveyed in the trade as a price per carat. It is important to fully understand that having a larger carat weight does not always mean that it is of a large looking stone. It is important to know the dimensions of the diamond's appearance.

The diamond's appearance is affected by how it was cut; if the girdle is too wide, the diamond's higher carat weight look smaller with no benefit to its appearance. Hiding the weight doesn't alter the light's behaviour entering the diamond.

Always keep in mind that finger size is an important factor because small fingers make the diamond of an engagement ring appear huge. When getting the diamond's measurement, always get the actual point size not the fractional weight because these measurements do not change.

The most popular carat sizes are in ½ carat, 1 carat and 2-carat diamonds. In buying your diamond engagement ring, make sure you already learned the different carat weights.

The Gemmological Institute of America (GIA) has developed a standard in carat weights by using ultrasensitive equipment to measure the diamond to an extra decimal place. This method is used to determine the diamond described in the report will match the real diamond.

So for the would-be husband out there, it is always important to know everything there is to know first about diamonds to have an educated decision in choosing the best engagement ring. That is why it is important to read a lot of literature such as this article about diamonds first before going to the jeweller. A jeweller can always differentiate a person who has some knowledge about diamonds from somebody who is clueless about it.

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