Marriage & Wedding Information

What You Should Know About Buying Engagement Rings Online


Buying engagement rings online doesn't have to be confusing or intimidating. In fact, the nice thing about shopping online is that you can browse several online stores without the hassle of traveling from store to store listening to endless sales pitches. Shopping for an engagement ring online can be quite a good experience if you buy from reputable jewelers like Blue Nile and Mondera. Make sure you get an appraisal done by a GIA certified appraiser within one month after your purchase in case there are any issues.

The first thing you'll want to consider is your ring size. If you don't know what it is, most jewelry stores in your town can take your ring size quickly. If you don't feel like going to a jewelry store, then you can get it online. Sites like Blue Nile will send you a ring sizer within several days. How's that for service!

Next, you'll want to decide what style and type of metal is right for you. White and yellow gold come in 14K or 18K. 14K has more alloy in the mixture and is therefore harder than 18K gold. This means it wears better and doesn't scratch as easily. This is something to consider if you work with your hands a lot. 18K gold is more valuable, obviously because it has more gold in it, but is softer and more yellow in color. The yellow could bring out more of the yellow in your diamond if the diamond has some yellow in it as most diamonds do. Platinum is another metal that is becoming popular these days. Its very hard and durable so it doesn't scratch as easily as gold does, and it really brings out the luster in a diamond. There are thousands of styles to choose from online, so you shouldn't have much trouble finding something you love.

Diamonds are graded according to three main factors, Cut, Clarity, and Color. Cut refers to the shape of the diamond. There are many different shapes, but the most brilliant diamonds are round cuts. That's because if the round shape is cut properly (i.e. ideal cut), the maximum amount of light is reflected back to you, bringing out the maximum brilliance of the diamond. If the round diamond is not cut to ideal proportions, some of the light leaks out of the bottom of the diamond causing a loss of brilliance. The next grade is clarity. Clarity refers to how many inclusions, or flaws are in the diamond. Diamonds are rated Flawless (no imperfections) to VVS 1 & 2 (very, very slight), to VS 1 & 2 (very slight), to SI 1 & 2 (slight), to I diamonds (imperfect). I would stay away from I diamonds, because they tend to be cloudy, ugly looking diamonds that have the potential to crack in some instances. They may be cheap, but not worth the money you do pay. If you're on a budget, stay in the SI 1 to VS 2 range, since the inclusions are generally not noticeable to the naked eye. You're definitely going to pay less than you would pay for a flawless or VVS 1, 2 diamond and the differences aren't all that noticeable.

Color is the third grading criteria. Although there are many different colors of diamonds around the world, most diamonds are yellow in color if they are not colorless. The grading starts with D (or colorless) diamonds and works through the alphabet; E, F, G, H, I all the way down to Z, which is a yellow colored diamond. Of course, you'll pay more for the D, E, and F colors. When you get past J color, the yellow starts to become noticeable, so stick to above J in color and you should be fine.

The final consideration is the design of the ring. If the ring has a lot of accent diamonds that are set in prongs, it will tend to snag on things, potentially losing one of your diamonds. The safest settings have channel, or pave set accent diamonds, which have no prongs. The center diamond will generally be set in prongs and this is to bring out the maximum beauty, because it allows the most light in. It can either be a 4 prong or 6 prong setting. Obviously, a 6 prong setting is safer and I would recommend it for any diamond over 1 carat. If you have a 6 prong setting for any diamond under a carat, the diamond tends to get lost in the setting. A cathedral setting helps to protect the center diamond somewhat by partially covering the sides of the diamond against sudden impacts. Above all, pick a design you love while keeping in mind the practicality of wearing your ring forever.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Paul Kozar is an ex-jeweler and now owner of Engagement Rings Online, a website dedicated to helping couples find their perfect ring online.

URL: http://www.a1-engagement-rings-planet.com
ADDRESS: Coon Rapids, MN.
E-MAIL: info@a1-engagement-rings-planet.com


MORE RESOURCES:

How Getting Married Made Me An Activist
Newsweek - Nov 15, 2008
This NEWSWEEK editor's wedding has put him in the middle of the culture wars. Now, as he and his spouse wait to see if their marriage is valid, ...


Wedding season is back with a bang in Capital
Times of India, India - Nov 9, 2008
NEW DELHI: Wintry Delhi days may slow down much of the city, but for the effusive marriage season it is time to stir again. Quite literally, weddings wake ...


The 5 W's of getting your wedding license
New York Daily News, NY - Nov 9, 2008
BY ANNA T. HIRSH White dresses, colorful bridesmaids, fondant-covered cakes and cover bands – these delightful details might be the building blocks of a ...


Prince Charles' wedding might be 'illegal'
Expressindia.com, India - Nov 9, 2008
London, November 10: The legality of Prince Charles' wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles has come into question after constitutional experts revealed that ...


Late night weddings and fireworks continue
The News International, Pakistan - Nov 13, 2008
By M. Zeeshan Azmat Last night I attended a wedding ceremony near the Five Star signal, North Nazimabad. The series of marriage lawns and halls on both ...


Think of the children???
Pleasanton Weekly,  USA - Oct 28, 2008
I agree with you. How dare the Yes on Prop 8 campaign use children in their commercials? The parents of the children on field trips did not consent to their ...


Where I Live - News Limited Community Newspapers

Hard work key to couple’s marriage
Where I Live - News Limited Community Newspapers, Australia - Nov 12, 2008
Golden couple ... Peter and Joan Waltisbuhl, of Cashmere, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on October 25. CHILDHOOD sweethearts Peter and Joan ...


Maui Weddings – Exotic Marriage with Deep Rooted Values
NewDesignWorld (press release), UK - Nov 10, 2008
Maui Weddings are getting popular day by day. The way in which these marriages are conducted is exceptional. In order to relish their marriage day for the ...


www.jaintoday.com offers free services for jain community.
BigNews.biz (press release), MA - Oct 29, 2008
... jain university, jain schools, jain colleges, jain centre, jain society, jain homes, jain sanskar, jain vivah low cost marriage wedding, jain schemes, ...


RE[3]: Too bad
Newmobilecomputing.com - Oct 26, 2008
It seems to me that the marriage side of things should be handled completely by the church, and after you get married you should go off to the courthouse to ...

Marriage-Wedding - Google News

home | site map
© 2006