1st Time shopping for an Engagement Ring. What's an acceptable carat size? (wearing, diamond)
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This is hard to answer, because depending on the cut, colour, clarity, smaller carat diamonds can look bigger. I had a friend who had a half carat diamond but it danced with colour and light, it was almost blinding to look at and had nothing to do with size.
You might want to also consider the type of jewelry your GF wears, because if she doesn't wear a lot, something big may seem too gaudy. Also, if she has narrower/smaller fingers, a bigger ring may look too bulky.
Depending on how you feel about it, you also may consider finding out what style she likes since she will essentially wear this for the rest of her life. Some women want to give input, you would know that best about her.
The only thing I would recommend is something that is in a lower setting, so it doesn't get caught on clothing all the time, and put runs in sweaters, etc. That is a real nuisance.
Ladies, I know what your answer to the title question is: AS BIG AS POSSIBLE.
Nope.... especially when it comes to diamonds.
The bottom line is that you should discuss this with your future bride. SHE may not even want a diamond! Many ladies are going with other stones nowadays.
Liberty2011: You already have my head spinning with all the different considerations to make... wow.
Sorry! Google the 4 C's of diamonds, also go to a reputable jeweler near you, one that you don't feel is just hustling for sales, and ask them to educate you about purchasing a diamond ring.
To add another thing, you may consider purchasing a Canadian-mined diamond. Mine is, it even has a microscopic serial number etched onto it and I even know which mine it came from. I am Canadian, so for me it's very thrilling to have a ring that was truly "made in Canada"!
This is hard to answer, because depending on the cut, colour, clarity, smaller carat diamonds can look bigger. I had a friend who had a half carat diamond but it danced with colour and light, it was almost blinding to look at and had nothing to do with size.
You might want to also consider the type of jewelry your GF wears, because if she doesn't wear a lot, something big may seem too gaudy. Also, if she has narrower/smaller fingers, a bigger ring may look too bulky.
Depending on how you feel about it, you also may consider finding out what style she likes since she will essentially wear this for the rest of her life. Some women want to give input, you would know that best about her.
The only thing I would recommend is something that is in a lower setting, so it doesn't get caught on clothing all the time, and put runs in sweaters, etc. That is a real nuisance.
My GF is a tall and lanky one, so she has long, slender fingers. And I agree about the lower setting as it sounds practical. So what's a good sized rock? A 0.5 carat? 0.75 carat? Price is an increasing consideration when the carat size approaches or exceeds 1.0.
My GF is a tall and lanky one, so she has long, slender fingers. And I agree about the lower setting as it sounds practical. So what's a good sized rock? A 0.5 carat? 0.75 carat? Price is an increasing consideration when the carat size approaches or exceeds 1.0.
Seriously, go talk to a reputable jeweler about diamonds. You're so focused on size and that isn't the most important part of purchasing a diamond. A 2 carat but dull diamond with visible inclusions (black wiggly things you can see with the naked eye) is not going to look nearly as nice as a 3/4 carat cut brilliantly to reflect the light. The better quality diamond is going to cost more, and what you want is better quality, not bigger.
Liberty2011 knows their stuff! I was just going to chime in about the 4Cs. Your main focus of the 4Cs should be on the clarity. It doesn't matter how large the diamond is at the end of the day, if it is cloudy with 'inclusions' it will look like glass.
You want it to sparkle! If she has smaller fingers, you may suffice with 3/4-1 carat. It really just depends. I say, get the highest amount of carat you can afford with the best color (D+) and clarity.
Also- I used to work at a jewelry store for 2 years, so trust me when I say PURCHASE THE WARRANTY!! I'm not sure about Tiffany & Co's warranties, but at the jewelry store I worked for, you could purchase an Extended Service Plan which covered the metal ring and diamond for a lifetime. Free, unlimited cleanings, rhodium plating (if the ring is white gold), sizings (her fingers could swell depending on weather, etc.), stone tightenings (it's natural that diamonds will become loose in their settings).
Hubs just brought home a Hello magazine (from Britain) and some Royal just got engaged and the picture is taken in front of some palace -- her ring is small. It's beautiful, but small.
So maybe the era of big honking rocks is over.
OP -- I fall under the dainty size but gorgeous color stone. My ring is 71 points (just under 3/4 carat) but it's a "D" color (the best) and the few small inclusion fall under the prongs of the setting and frankly the stone is eye clean.
To me it's always more about setting than size. I'd rather have a strikingly beautiful ring than a big rock -- or bunch of rocks. Find a good jeweler (not a mall jeweler) and pick out a number of rings in your price range, and propose with a cigar band or a gumball machine ring, and let her pick the ring.
I've seen women wearing 5 stone bands instead of engagement rings with a main stone. There is nothing wrong with any of it.
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