Archive for the ‘Help for Men’ Category

Diamond jewelry is a symbol of wealth.  It should be expensive.  So whilst it is perfectly possible to find affordable bargain diamond jewelry from reputable online stores such as this one, you should never be tempted by cheap diamond engagement rings and other jewelry. 

To make sure you do not get scammed, it is a good idea to calculate exactly when something is too cheap.  For example, if you are tempted by flashing signs claiming genuine diamond rings at only $100, beware!  Once the mark-up has been taken off, you may be looking at a $20-$30 ring! 

For this price, there will be every possible weight saving trick employed to cut down on the precious metal content.  The shank will be hollowed out, the gold quality will be 10k at best and the diamonds will amount to only a couple of points in total.  And look for optical tricks which will reflect the diamonds to make them look larger and more substantial, such as tiny diamonds claw set into a much wider silvered channel.

Always make sure you determine the nature and purity (platinum, 22k, 14k, 10k gold, 925 silver etc) and weight of the precious metal included in each piece.  Next compare the size and quality (clarity, color, cut) of the diamonds.  Be aware that a single 1ct diamond will cost very much more than a selection of small diamonds totalling 1ct.  This is because it is much harder to find larger carat weights of diamonds and they are correspondingly expensive.  However some jewelry outlets continue to focus on the overall total carat weight (ctw) of the diamonds in the piece.  This can be very misleading, especially if the actual carat weight of the main stone is not detailed separately. 

Diamond rings are not cheap!  Buy only from reputable jewelers and never be tempted by cheap rings!  Click here for affordable engagement rings, or if you would like to design your own ring.

Deciding which setting is perfect for your diamond is one of the first and hardest decisions you have to make when buying an engagement ring.  This is important because this is the ring that you or your girlfriend will wear for a lifetime.  Get it wrong, and it will quickly look dated.  So choose carefully!

There are four main options?

The Solitaire
The diamond solitaire because the most popular setting for an engagement ring around the middle of the 1960s.  It comprises a single diamond set high in a prong or bezel setting on a band of precious metal.  This setting suits all types of metal and all shapes of diamond.  However, because the diamond commands solo attention, this setting suits larger diamonds of a quarter carat and above and also good grade white diamonds with high clarity and good cut.  The solitaire setting is a “safe bet” if you are planning to surprise her with a diamond engagement ring as you pop the question.

The Trilogy Setting
This is another classic setting which has become popular for occasions other than an engagement although it can make a stunning engagement ring.  In the trilogy engagement ring, three gemstones representing the past, the present and the future, are typically prong.  These are either all diamonds or a central colored gemstone flanked by two diamonds, or a central diamond flanked by two colored gemstones.  The three are generally set in the same plane as the band of the ring, although they can also be set on a twist for variation.

The Cluster
The diamond cluster is a collection of smaller gemstones surrounding a central diamond or colored gemstone.  Although the cluster ring offers one of the best opportunities for experimenting with more fashionable colored gemstones, it also looks fabulous all in diamond.  The cluster ring is arguably the setting which is the most likely to date because it can be fashioned in so many different ways.

The Band Ring
The diamond band ring is generally pave or channel set with an array of diamonds to create an illusion of brilliance across the surface of the ring.  The setting is smooth and low set into the metal band making this ring one of the easiest to wear on a daily basis.  It is especially suited to active types or people with jobs close to others, such as school teachers and medical professionals.  Band rings also make excellent right hand rings.

There are other settings to choose from too, especially if you decide to design your own engagement ring, but these are the most popular choices.  Choose carefully and your diamond ring will become an heirloom piece for generations to come.