Celebrate Great Britain’s winning summer with the ultimate romantic gesture
Tuesday, 14 August 2012
It's been a hugely exciting year for all of us. From the biggest summer of sport to the Queen's Jubilee, sales of bunting have gone through the roof.
One of the more endearing sights in the run up to the games this year was the young torchbearer proposing to his girlfriend at the end of his stint carrying the flame. So, if you’ve been inspired not only to get off the couch and get fit but also to pop the question to your beloved, here are some top tips on buying the perfect diamond engagement ring.
The first thing you must do is decide on how much you want to spend. There’s no right and wrong amount; don’t listen to people who say it must be three months’ salary or similar. Whatever your budget, as long as you’re prepared to do your homework so you know where to look, you can get a beautiful piece of jewellery that your intended will treasure forever.
Shopping for diamond jewellery can be a bit intimidating as there’s a fair amount of terminology involved. Diamonds are graded for their quality: the higher the grade, the more expensive the diamond. The good thing is that this grading system is universal, which makes it easier to compare different types of diamonds and different retailers.
The basics of diamond grading is that the purer the diamond and the whiter the colour, the more expensive it will be. Size obviously affects value as well: the higher the carat, the higher the price. It really comes down to balancing the different elements of diamond-grading to get the right stone within your budget. It might be that, for the shape of diamond you want you can get a well-cut stone that allows lots of light to refract through it, which helps negate a slightly lower grade of colour. Or if you are buying a multi-stone ring, such as a diamond eternity ring which uses smaller stones instead of one large solitaire diamond, you can afford better quality stones because smaller diamonds are cheaper.
It can sometimes be difficult finding a shop that stocks many options for you to compare, which is where the internet comes into its own. Websites such as Serendipity Diamonds have clever, easy–to-use tools that allow you to build your own ring, playing around with the different elements of diamond grade to get the best look, the right size and perfect quality of diamond to suit your budget. If you change any of the criteria, you can instantly see how your changes affect the end price.
Plus, with robust online guarantees and the chance to visit their customer care offices if you want to see the products before you actually buy, you get the best of both worlds; unbeatable expertise and service with the keen prices and ease of online shopping.
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