10 Ways To Get Value When Buying a Diamond Engagement Ring
The experience of buying an engagement ring should be filled with love, not stress. At True, our experts can help you select your diamond and create your perfect ring - while getting the most value for your hard-earned dollars. Here are 10 ways we can help you do that.
- A little education goes a long way. At True, our goal is to bring simplicity and transparency to an industry that can often be the opposite. We can guide you through the universal standards of diamond-grading, and give you the tools to understand what factors drive quality and price. When you know what combination of characteristics will lead to the overall appearance you are looking for, then you’ll know how best to allocate your money.
- Opt for ‘eye clean’. When it comes to the clarity of a diamond, our philosophy is that you don’t need to pay for what you can’t see. The term ‘eye clean’ means that the inclusions in a diamond - or internal flaws - cannot be seen with the naked eye, and therefore will not impact its brilliance. Opting for a clarity rating that is ‘eye clean’ is a great way to get more value.
- Cut is king. Most engagement ring shoppers focus on two things: the size of the diamond, and the sparkle it gives off. A well-cut diamond does not significantly increase the price, but it will impact the way the light reflects and it will ensure the diamond appears true-to-size by not hiding carat weight in the wrong places.
- Reconsider Round. Round diamonds are in higher demand than other cuts and as a result, they command a higher market value. But that is not the only reason they can be more pricey. Round diamonds involve more time and skill to cut, and they also require that more of the rough diamond is cut away in order to achieve it’s fire and brilliance - therefore reducing overall carat weight.
- Embrace the rule of 0.99. The price of a diamond often jumps into a higher bracket as soon as you hit the next, full carat weight (e.g. 1.0, 2.0, 3.0). This added premium is due to the psychological impact created by the first digit. However, the difference in measurement between a 1.9 and a 2.0-carat diamond will be almost negligible, but with relatively better value.
- Play with colour-combos. On the GIA diamond colour scale, D, E and F diamonds are all considered to be ‘colourless’ while the G, H, I diamonds are ‘near colourless’. However, many people cannot see the difference, even when side by side. As a bonus tip, diamonds set in yellow gold tend to absorb the colour of the gold, so the difference between a G diamond and a K diamond will be almost imperceptible.
- Check your measurements. It is a common misconception that the carat weight of a diamond is the only telling feature of the diamond’s size. Instead, you can use the birds-eye-view measurements of a diamond to gauge how big it will look. You don’t want to take this too far, however. If the diameter of the diamond is large but the diamond is too shallow, it won’t refract the light - and the diamond will lose brilliance.
- Fluoro can be your friend. Fluorescence is the visible light - or blueish glow - that a colourless diamond emits when under a UV light. This is a scale graded by the GIA from ‘none’ to ‘very strong’ and can impact the price, even though the colour and sparkle will not be impacted in normal lighting conditions. This can be a great way to save money! In addition, for lower colour-grade diamonds with a yellow tint (think: J, K, L), the blue fluorescence can actually cancel the yellow out, making it appear better than what it’s colour grade indicates.
- Swap out side-stones. Large stones are more expensive on a per-carat basis than small stones. This means that adding significant side stones to a ring will increase the price more than using smaller stones for embellishment. Try going with mele bands or a halos around the main stone to create impact.
- You don’t need to be a perfectionist. The closer a diamond gets to being flawless, the more rare it becomes - and rarity can come at a significant cost. Subtle imperfections create the unique, defining features of a diamond. Why not select a diamond as distinctive and unique as your partner is?
Ready to buy your dream engagement ring? Learn about the True Process and connect with us.
