{"id":3859,"date":"2012-01-12T17:47:10","date_gmt":"2012-01-12T22:47:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.topweddingsites.com\/wedding-blog\/?p=3859"},"modified":"2014-03-28T16:13:20","modified_gmt":"2014-03-28T20:13:20","slug":"choosing-a-ring-the-4-cs-of-diamonds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.topweddingsites.com\/wedding-blog\/wedding-jewelry\/choosing-a-ring-the-4-cs-of-diamonds","title":{"rendered":"The 4 C’s of Diamonds & Why They Matter When Choosing a Ring"},"content":{"rendered":"

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You\u2019ve met the love of your life and are ready to pop the question, but before you rush out to buy a ring, take the time to do a bit of research. If you would like the proposal and ring to be a complete surprise, you will need to consider your beloved\u2019s taste or spend some time observing the type of jewelry she wears.<\/p>\n

If she wears a lot of yellow gold, select an engagement ring with a yellow gold band to match it. If she wears a lot of silvery-colored jewelry, go with a band of white gold or platinum. If her taste is more towards simple pieces, or she wears very little jewelry, you may want to purchase a solitaire (a ring with only one diamond) or a ring with two very small side stones. If she likes larger or bold pieces of jewelry or is into a lot of flash and sparkle, you may want to get a ring with side stones, even colored ones, and pave diamonds (small diamond pieces) covering the band.<\/p>\n

It is not wrong to look at rings together. When we were dating, my husband pulled me into a jewelry store one day and wanted me to show him rings I liked, so he could get a feel for what to buy later on his own. Yes, it may take away some of the surprise, but if you are ready to get married, generally so is she, so why not ensure she gets the exact thing she wants?<\/p>\n

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There are a few other things to consider when purchasing a diamond engagement ring, and the primary issues are the four Cs\u2014color, cut, clarity, and carat.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Color:<\/strong> The color of a diamond actually refers to its colorlessness, unless of course you are intentionally buying a colored diamond, such as a yellow or pink one. The level of color in a traditional white diamond is rated with a letter, D through Z, with D indicating perfectly white and Z a yellowish or brownish tint. A diamond rated E through K will have nearly no color at all, at least no color that will be visible to the average person once the diamond is mounted in a ring. Once you go much past K, it is possible that you might notice a slight yellowish tint to the diamond if you are holding the ring against a white background.<\/p>\n

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Cut:<\/strong> The cut refers to both the shape of the diamond (round, oval, pear, rectangular, etc.) and to the number of facets and the way the diamond was designed or cut by the jeweler. The particular cut of a diamond is what affects its sparkle. The ideal cut will let in and reflect the most light. A \u201cbrilliant cut\u201d diamond is the most popular, as it yields the most fire and sparkle as you shift the ring in the light. A diamond can have a brilliant cut and be round or another shape (I have a rectangular brilliant-cut diamond in my ring). Princess cut is another popular choice as well and is typically a perfect square.<\/p>\n

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Clarity: <\/strong>The clarity rating of a diamond depends on the number and size of tiny, natural imperfections within or on the surface of the diamond. Here is a list of the clarity grades for diamonds, according to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA):<\/p>\n