How to Select the Best Diamonds for Customized Engagement Rings

When faced with the brilliance of a sparkling diamond, it’s easy to be mesmerized and overlook the finer details that determine its quality and value. All diamonds dazzle, but not all are created equal. If you’re planning to feature a diamond as the centerpiece of your customized engagement ring, ensuring you choose the highest quality one within your budget is essential. By understanding the key factors that determine the value of diamonds, you can make an informed choice even as a first time buyer! Keep reading to discover how to select high-quality diamonds that suit your personal taste when creating customized engagement rings.

What is Diamond Certification?

One of the most important criteria that you need to consider when selecting diamonds for customized engagement rings is diamond certification. A diamond certificate is also known as a grading report and it is an evaluation that is performed by an accredited gemological laboratory. A diamond certificate ensures that the diamond you receive is truly a high-quality gemstone based on a diamond’s key characteristics: cut, clarity, color, and carat weight.

This certification is provided by well-reputed organizations such as:

1. GIA (Gemological Institute of America)
2. AGS (American Gem Society)
3. IGI (International Gemological Institute)

Make sure that you request a diamond certificate from a reputable lab such as the ones mentioned above when setting a diamond on your customized engagement ring. With a diamond certificate outlining the stone’s certified attributes, you can confidently compare prices with other diamonds and ensure you are getting good value for your money.

The Diamond Grading System

Understanding the diamond grading system that is universally applied is key to choosing high quality diamonds for customized engagement rings. The famous 4Cs are used to grade diamonds and a diamond certificate always contains these attributes.

01. Cut: One of the most important Cs that determine the quality of a diamond is the cut. Cut is graded on a scale of excellent to poor by diamond graders. The ability of each diamond facet to capture light is impacted by how well a jeweler cuts it. If the cut is poor, your diamond’s brilliance as well as value is reduced.

02. Color: A diamond’s color should be as colorless as possible for it to be valuable. A diamond’s color is graded on a scale of D to Z where D stands for completely colorless. Most accredited diamond graders use a systematic process where multiple graders evaluate the diamond color since color grading is quite subjective. Therefore, don’t rely on a jeweler’s opinion on the diamond color. Always request a diamond grading report where a fair evaluation has taken place.

03. Carat: Carat is the measurement of the weight of the diamond. Don’t confuse carat with the size of the diamond since this can vary depending on the shape and cut of the diamond. For example, a 1-carat round diamond can appear smaller than a 1-carat oval diamond due to the different ways these shapes reflect light and how they are cut.

04. Clarity: Clarity is the measurement of how flawless a diamond is in terms of both internal flaws and external flaws. Internal flaws are called inclusions while external flaws are called blemishes. Natural diamonds are rarely flawless. However, you can’t see most diamond flaws through the naked eye. Diamond graders rank the clarity of diamonds and check whether jewelers may have engaged in clarity treatments.

Once you get a basic understanding of how the 4Cs work, you can discuss different diamond options with your diamond ring designer. Depending on your preferences for an engagement ring, you can choose a diamond shape that your partner likes and check if the quality of the diamond is true to its appearance.

At Forever Diamonds, we pride ourselves on offering high-quality diamonds for customized engagement rings. If you need expert guidance in selecting the perfect diamond for your customized ring, our dedicated team is here to help. Get in touch today!