Found the perfect girl? Ready to pop the question? Get ready for the most exciting (read: expensive) purchase of your life. $15B in raw diamonds are mined each year. Wanna get in on it? Here’s what you should know:
Those 4Cs
Carat, Cut, Color, and Clarity
Carats:
Size does matter. The average engagement ring is one carat. The cost will obviously increase as this C does, but here’s how you’ll measure up.
Cuts:
The cut of a diamond plays an important role in selecting the best diamond. The term cut technically refers to the number of facets on a diamond. The number of cuts will change the brilliance of a diamond (ie how shiny that thing is).
Different diamond shapes require different cuts! Here are some popular shapes:
Round cut diamonds are usually the most expensive one.. round diamonds produce more “wastage” during the cutting process.
Color
Diamonds are color-graded from colorless to a yellowish tint. Colorless diamonds are the most expensive. They’re the rarest to mine.
Clarity
A large majority of the diamonds out there will contain flaws. No two diamonds are the same. These “flaws” give a diamond its character, its uniqueness. Two major industry credited charts would show diamond grading something like this:
Final Thoughts
All of these characteristics determine the price of a diamond. Cleaner with fewer flaws and more cuts will be pricier… but hey, it’s a lifetime investment.
Okay… let’s talk budget.
The average rule of thumb is three months' salary. No judgment if you spend more or less. It’s all personal.
Ready to shop?
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