Valentine's Day: What you need to know when buying an engagement ring
It's all about size, colour, shape, clarity, cut, certification and price.
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Your support makes all the difference.There are choices - and purchases - in life there are not easy to make, and buying a diamond is definitely one of them. If you're planning on a sparkling proposal this Valentine's Day, then chances are you'll be needing an engagement ring.
But with so many colours, shapes, sizes and prices on offer, the pressure to get it right can make it a rather daunting experience.
Stress no more. Tobias Kormind, 77 Diamonds founder and industry expert, is on hand with his seven essential tips - the so-called 7 Cs - to show you how to maximise your jewellery budget this year.
Watch the video above and read the tips below to make your experience a successful one.
1. Colour
Diamond colour is graded from D-Z. D is the whitest and the lower in the scale you get, the more yellow/brown they become. Stick to H colour or above to ensure your diamond is white and bright.
2. Clarity
You don't need a flawless diamond for it to look crystal clear to the naked eye, anything from VS2 or above will guarantee a winner that has no visible blemishes or inclusions.
3. Carat
As you go up in carat, diamonds jump in price so pick ones just below the jumps. Example: a 0.92ct diamond may have similar measurements to the 1.0ct that you have your eye on (they look the same!) but could save you up to 25%!
4. Certification
Only buy a certified diamond. You wouldn't buy a car without looking at its documents and this is definitely the case for diamonds. You want to know the diamond is exactly what you're paying for so ensure you get a full certificate to accompany your purchase.
5. Contour (Shape)
Round Brilliant cuts are the most popular as they have the most life and sparkle, however, some shapes like ovals, pears and marquise offer better size per carat weight (making the diamond look bigger and more expensive!)
6. Cut
A diamond cut refers to how sparkly it is - there's no point in having a diamond if it doesn't sparkle, all diamonds are graded from Excellent to Poor for their cut. To ensure the diamond sparkles, go with an "Excellent" or "Very Good" cut.
7. Cost
Set yourself a budget and work your requirements around it. You don't need the highest quality diamond for it to be beautiful so work with the perfect balance of the 7C's to ensure your diamond has the wow factor without the wild prices!
Be confident and she will say yes.
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