Home › Dresses › Jewelry Accessories

Ring Shopping Guide

Error message

  • User warning: Invalid $info type: must be an array or object. in Database::parseConnectionInfo() (line 1650 of /var/www/html/docroot/includes/database/database.inc).
  • User warning: Invalid $info type: must be an array or object. in Database::parseConnectionInfo() (line 1650 of /var/www/html/docroot/includes/database/database.inc).
  • User warning: Invalid $info type: must be an array or object. in Database::parseConnectionInfo() (line 1650 of /var/www/html/docroot/includes/database/database.inc).
  • User warning: Invalid $info type: must be an array or object. in Database::parseConnectionInfo() (line 1650 of /var/www/html/docroot/includes/database/database.inc).
  • User warning: Invalid $info type: must be an array or object. in Database::parseConnectionInfo() (line 1650 of /var/www/html/docroot/includes/database/database.inc).
  • User warning: Invalid $info type: must be an array or object. in Database::parseConnectionInfo() (line 1650 of /var/www/html/docroot/includes/database/database.inc).

You're certain to score the diamond ring of your dreams if you discuss what you want openly.

 

Buyer Beware

You probably won't have any difficulty purchasing a quality stone. Still, here's what to watch for, says Antoinette Matlins, author of Engagement & Wedding Rings (3rd Edition): The Definitive Buying Guide for People in Love.

  • Deceptive Lighting: "Many stores have high-tech lighting that can make anything sparkle, even glass," warns Matlins. "Examine diamonds in a variety of lights, such as daylight-type fluorescent lighting and natural sunlight."
     
  • Diversion Strategies: "Sometimes, retailers try to convince you that clarity is the factor that most affects sparkle and brilliance, but this isn't true. You can't see any difference between a flawless diamond and one that is seven clarity grades lower on the grading scale. Clarity is often the ‘C' you can skimp on without sacrificing beauty."
     
  • Strong-Arming: "Focus on what is really important to you, not what the salesperson tells you. You have to juggle the four Cs to achieve the combination that works for you emotionally and financially; knowing how to do so puts you—not the store—in the driver's seat."

Shopping Smarts

  • Ask the jeweler or salesperson to clean the diamond before you examine it.
     
  • View diamonds against a dead-white background (plain paper works well).
     
  • Don't buy without reviewing the facts on your sales receipt. There should also be a report issued by a major gem lab, like the one at the American Gem Society, to confirm that the diamond has been quality-graded appropriately.

Pages