Monday, December 1, 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 that'll tell you more.

Every diamond out there has been graded according to four major characteristics. These are carat, clarity, cut and color. We'll take a look at color to show you more.

Color grading is done on a scale ranging from D to Z - D is the best of the grades and Z is the worst. Color grades for each diamond are performed by inspecting the diamond under high magnification on a white background in a lab.

What's the catch? Diamonds that are D grade won't look differently from one that's four grades lower in quality - an H.

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.

The point here is that no one should ever pay more for a higher grade diamond if they can't see the difference between it and one that's supposedly lower in quality. Leave the finest diamonds for the very rich - after all, the difference can only be seen with a microscope!

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. - 16492

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