Buying the Ring
by Shantell Taylor
FOR MANY PEOPLE, buying an engagement ring is the most important and difficult purchase they will make. The engagement ring is likely the most expensive jewelry item they will purchase and is an important decision because not only is it expected to be worn for a lifetime, it may also be passed down from generation to generation thereafter. There is a lot of information out there regarding diamonds and how they are graded. This overwhelming amount of information can be confusing to the layperson. But despite all the technical explanations, the three most common requests about an engagement ring at Joden’s are these:
- "I want a diamond that looks white. If it’s not white I won’t like it."
- "I want a diamond that doesn’t have any marks."
- "I want an engagement ring that doesn’t look like my best friend’s or that I will tire of."
The primary factor that all women want in a diamond is that is looks pretty and sparkles. To attain that end, learn about the four C’s – the four categories that diamonds are graded in – carat weight, cut, color and clarity. Carat weight is how much the diamond weighs. Each carat is divided into one hundred equal parts called points. Points to a carat are like pennies to a dollar, there are 100 points in one carat. The word carat is derived from the South American word "carob" which is a chocolate seed that is the same weight as a one carat diamond.
Cut is the only human factor. There are many different shapes a diamond can be, such as round brilliant, princess cut, pear shape, oval and marquise, to name a few.
Color grade is based on a scale starting at ‘D’ and ends at ‘Z’. A diamond with a color grade of D would be hyper white and overly transparent and a diamond with a color grade of Z would have a significant yellow tone.
Clarity is the amount, size, location and nature of imperfections in or on the surface of a diamond. Those on the inside of the diamond are called inclusions and those on the surface are called blemishes. Clarity is based on a scale ranging from flawless to imperfect.
The anxiety and pressure of this purchase can be relieved if a little homework is done and you have a reliable engagement ring adviser, a graduate gemologist, during their purchase.
Shantell, of Grove City, is the advertising manager and marketing coordinator of Joden World Resources, at 144 South Broad Street, Grove City. A showroom open to the public offers an extensive collection of the finest antique, estate and
modern jewelry. The 40-year-old company is a full member of the Jewelers Board of Trade, the Diamond Dealers Club of New York City, the American Society of Jewelry Historians and the Better Business Bureau. Info: 724.458.6710 or visit www.joden.com 