Tuesday, December 2, 2008

How To Find an Affordable Engagement Ring

By Tom W. Mason

If you're intimidated by the process of engagement ring shopping, you're not alone. Most of us are worried about this large, important purchase. However, there are some ways you can save a lot of money and make the whole process much simpler.

One obvious thing that most of us know is that the bigger the diamond, the better. This fact is responsible for a lot of people's fear and anxiety when buying a ring. They're afraid of having to spend a lot to please their fiance. After all, larger diamonds mean a higher price.

Fortunately, there's some good news. You can find a larger diamond for a much smaller cost than you'd think. Just shop smart and learn about how diamonds are priced.

Here's an example to help you understand.

There are four main characteristics used to grade diamonds. These are carat, cut, color and clarity. We'll take a look at color to see how to get the best deal.

Diamond color is graded on a scale from D to Z, with D being the best quality. Determining a diamond's color is done under high magnification in a lab.

However, while there may be a big difference between a D diamond and an H diamond to the microscope, there's not a big difference in those four grades as far as you're concerned.

The naked eye can't tell the difference between the two. It's actually almost impossible to tell unless you place them on a pure white background, side by side, then view them under magnification. Grades below I may show a difference if you know your diamonds, but most people still can't tell the difference.

So what's the point? You should never pay for a D grade diamond when the human eye can't distinguish it from an H!

After all, there's a big difference in price, even if there's not one in appearance. You could pay thousands of dollars less. Most jewelery stores try to encourage customers to buy higher grades, since they're technically better quality, and most people listen - paying a lot more than they should.

This is only one example of a way to save when you buy an engagement ring. Pick a diamond with a lower grade in color, and you'll be able to buy one that's a lot bigger for the same money. - 16003

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