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They can tell you what she
likes and what she doesn't in terms of style. They also have access to her
jewelry box, just in case you need to borrow a piece or two for comparison and
for her ring size.
Your next accomplice is a
jeweler. Now he's not going to appear out of thin air. There's no magic lamp
that you can rub to find him. You'll have to do the search the old fashioned way
- research.
You're looking for an honest jeweler. Forget searching the mall, they rarely
know what they're selling. You need someone who will help you find the perfect
gem for your lady and who can create the perfect setting to match it. He also
needs to be someone who understands finances and can, and will, give you options
that work within your budget. One way you can tell if you've found someone you
can work with is if they give receipts that indicate refunds as well as the
proper certificate for the stones you purchase
What certificate you ask? The certificate issued by the Gemological Institute of
America (GIA) or another equally reputed independent lab, to help you identify
the true value of your diamond. It will tell you all about the various points
that make your stone unique. You'll find that no two stones are exactly alike
and this piece of paper can help you avoid getting scammed.
Now there are 4C's that you need to know so that you can choose a true gem for
your fiancée. The 4C's stand for cut, clarity, color and carat; listed in the
proper order of importance when choosing a gem. All these traits for your
particular piece should be specified in the matching certificate.
The cut of a diamond is pretty simple to determine. You are looking at 2 aspects
- the shape and the quality of the cut. The artisan who handled the diamond will
shape the stone ideally to bring out the inner fire of the diamond. He will
carve the stone shaping it into a specific geometrical pattern such as a round
or an emerald by creating facets. These flat walls bounce light off each other
creating that sparkle that women all over the world love. This is what they call
brilliance.
You need to keep in mind 2 things. First, what shape suits her finger best?
Conspirator number one will assist you here. Are her fingers long? Then maybe
she'd like the marquise or emerald cut. On the other hand, she may have very
small hands. Why not go for a princess or radiant cut instead? If you're unsure
go for the standard: the round brilliant. In quality, ideal is the highest
rating followed by very good then good then fair and finally, poor. You can't
really tell the difference with the naked eye. Still, it's a good idea to stay
with good or better. You can save yourself quite a bundle by choosing a very
good cut instead of an ideal, and still end up with a gem your lady will love.
Now, every gem has some imperfections. The good news is, they are not visible to
the naked eye. The one with the least imperfections are called flawless and they
are so rare that they are truly expensive. If you're watching the budget, ask
for a diamond of clarity of at least very slightly flawed (VS1 or VS-2) or
higher, so that you still get a good gem without breaking your bank.
If your girl will go for tradition, she'll probably go for the clear diamond. If
she's an avid Hollywood fan, she may prefer to follow the growing trend in
colored diamond. General rule: the more colorless the piece, the more expensive.
Clue: choose a piece between grades D (colorless) to H (nearly colorless). You
can't tell the difference in color by just looking at it but you will feel it in
your pocketbook.
Lastly, the weight or size of the gem is the least important. As your
co-conspirators may tell you, quality is more important. Just to let you know
what carat is though, it is the metric system by which a diamond is weighed, at
a 100 points to a carat. The important thing to remember here is that your
jeweler should give you the specific carat weight of each diamond not the total
of all the stones in the ring.
Once you've chosen, have it made into a ring. A popular setting is platinum,
which looks even more beautiful as it ages and is a really tough material. There
are so many possible settings, you'll be truly grateful for your conspirators.
Keep in mind that a beautiful gem needs a beautiful ring to accentuate its
beauty so take your time choosing. It calls for as much care as the gem did.
Soon, your jeweler will deliver your beautiful ring. Don't forget to check that
the certificate and the actual piece match. All you'll need to do next is decide
how you want to propose. Best Wishes!
About the Author: Lesley-Ann Graham runs
WeddingTrix.com - a valuable
wedding planning resource with articles, tips and
advice to help you plan your perfect wedding!
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