Check out whether the style of the diamond matches well with its setting. Selecting a diamond ring depends on the style of its setting. You may opt for a fashionable or traditional style. It completely depends on your taste and choice.

Settling work of art is another important issue that you need to consider while selecting a diamond ring. Different types of materials can be used in the ring to support the diamond. It can be made of yellow gold, white gold, titanium and platinum. First, you need to decide what kind of material you want. Budget is an important factor. Some materials are less expensive. So, you can opt for a material that is cheap.

One interesting factor with the diamond rings is that you can always buy a single diamond and then choose a setting. So, there is no compulsion to buy an already set diamond ring. While looking for the loose diamonds, you have the freedom of choosing from different types and shapes. However, your hand is important in finding out the shape that suits you. If your fingers are long and narrow an oval shaped diamond can be the ideal choice.

Now, it is time to think about the setting. You can choose the yellow gold which is most popular for the wedding rings. Also, there are platinum and white gold; but they are more expensive. However, while choosing the yellow gold, you should not go for the higher quality. In fact, the higher the quality, the softer the gold becomes. Thus 14k gold will be more resilient than 24k.

Though the white diamonds are the most popular, there are other colors like pink, yellow and many others. However, they can be expensive. Naturally, the type of setting and diamond will decide the cost of the diamond ring.

There are more than 13 points which one needs  to consider while buying a diamond but you can still have a great diamond considering only 4 C’s which are- cut, clarity, color and caret weight.

The Cut of the diamond means how well the diamond has been shaped and chiseled. It includes the polish and the finishing which makes the diamond shine. There are different kinds of diamond cuts -round, pear, oval, emerald, marquise, princess, radiant and heart-shaped .Ask for the table percentage and the depth percentage of the diamond you have selected.

As for the color, the most costly diamonds are colorless. It should be crystal clear. But nowadays people also prefer colored ones, like diamonds with pink and yellow hues.

The third C, clarity, differs from one diamond to another. There are no two diamonds which will have the same level of clarity. The clearer the diamond the higher is its price. If a diamond has more inclusions in it then its price falls .But this can only be determined by a jeweler or under microscope. To a normal person it would have no difference from the other.

Caret is a word known to all. The greater the caret count of the diamond the higher would be its value. A 2 caret diamond will cost more than two diamonds of one caret studded together.

Apart from these details, keep in mind to buy the diamond from a reputed and branded store to avoid fake diamonds. Also take a look at your budget before setting your eyes on the diamonds because your eyes might hold onto a diamond which has all the 4C’s higher and the price too.

With these things in mind buy a diamond to be cherished for generations.

Drawbacks of Cheap Rings

Poor Quality – cheap rings are usually poorly made using low quality metal alloys which can break and deform with wear. Remember that an engagement ring is designed for life, so your purchase should reflect that rather than your current bank balance.

Symbolic problems – what does giving a cheap ring say about you? For one thing, your partner may take it as a sign that you are less than committed about the relationship or may see it as reflective of your personality. Make sure you only buy a cheap ring if you really have to, and that your partner is well aware of your reasons behind it.

Appearance – cheap rings don’t look good. That’s just a fact of life – from the bands to the stones, cheap rings invariably look cheap, and this will be identified from a mile off when your partner goes to show her ring to relatives and friends. Again, it’s all about creating a positive impression.

Lack of aftercare – jewellers who sell cheap rings tend to be more sales orientate than craft orientate, which means you can expect a poor aftercare service and very little warranty. After all, you get what you pay for.

Durability – cheap rings don’t usually stand the test of time, and can begin to rust early or weaken at the stone housing. With cheap rings, chances are they’re going to fail a couple of years into the marriage with daily use which will ultimately require a repair bill and a great deal of inconvenience.

Poor Stones and Setup – the stone quality in cheap engagement rings is rarely high, which means you might end up with some less pure or less well cut than another, more expensive ring. Again, it’s these details that really do make or break an engagement ring, and this can leave them looking cheap and tacky.

What You’re Looking For

Precious Metal Band – the band of the ring should really be some kind of precious metal, preferably in a style and colour that your partner traditionally likes to wear

Clear, Sharp-Cut Stones – the stones should be sharply and accurately cut in order to have that smooth, glamorous appearance. This is more obvious in some stones than in others, but it is something to look out for nevertheless when buying your ring.

Ring-size – a tricky one for most men, the ring size is crucial. Is the ring you’re about to drop a few grand on likely to fit your wife-in-the-making? Or is it going to be a little too tight, in which case it will be of absolutely no use whatsoever. To avoid destroying the element of surprise, measure her existing rings using coins as comparisons – then head in to the jewellers and describe the size in relation to the coins you have used. This is a great way of getting the size spot-on without having to ask too many questions.

Ring housing – how well does the ring seem to be put together? The ring housing is probably the best way to gauge overall workmanship, so examine how well the stones are fitted to get an overall idea of the quality you’re buying

Warranties/Repair Plans – this one is a must, especially if you’re spending heavily on a particular ring. If the stone falls out or if the band snaps unexpectedly, this could save you a pretty penny in repair bills and will also make sure you’re getting a better deal for your money.

Reputability – is the jeweller in question well respected and well established? If so, this should also help ensure you have a better idea of the kind of quality to expect

Exchange Policy – if your partner doesn’t like the ring, it’s important that you have the fall back option of an exchange. Make sure you check that you can get a cash exchange rather than a credit note however, just in case you’re wife-to-be is picky and doesn’t like any of the available rings, in which case you might end up heavily out of pocket.

Hot Diamonds Online
Hot Diamonds have their own website, but they also have a diverse distribution channel of jewellers up and down the country. Whilst brand prices do tend to be relatively fixed, it is possible for find a retailer willing to sacrifice his margin in order to pass on a saving to the consumer. Particularly when sold on the internet, there is increased scope to offer discounts based on the lower marginal operating costs sustained by the retailer. With a bit of shopping around, it’s pretty easy to find the lowest price available on the Internet.

Flawed Stones: Cheaper Rings, Same Appearance
Flawed or small stones are staggeringly cheaper than others. What’s more, they don’t necessarily look any worse appearance-wise. There’s a great deal of snobbery surrounding diamonds and their clarity and size, but for the average wedding ring there’s no need to get involved in all that. By simply opting for a smaller or less clear stone you can shave a great deal off the price of your diamond ring and look for something with an improved-quality band and stone housing.

Financing Your Ring
The perpetual question – how to pay for it all. Hot Diamonds don’t tend to break the bank, and most of their ranges are affordable. However for those living at the edge of their means, there are a number of potential financing methods available. Third party financing agreements are usually less expensive than store or retailer credit so this may be the best route to go down. Alternatively there are hire purchase agreements which can be negotiated with a number of Hot Diamond distributors to help stagger payments, although it’s wise to bear in mind that these do tend to be somewhat more costly in the long run.

Plain and Elegant
Plain and elegant style engagement rings are your basic, down-to-earth styles. A circular band with a simple stone, or perhaps even a simple collection of stones, can look just as glamorous, if not more so, than more intricate and ‘loud’ rings that are available. If you’re going for elegance, there’s nothing better than plain and simple white gold with one large diamond. Don’t be fooled by their more straightforward appearance – this kind of style can often rack up more of a bill that more intricate models, and tend to use higher quality materials to make up for less workmanship and jeweller involvement.

Over The Top
Whilst ‘over the top’ may have negative connotations, it is used in this sense to describe elaborate, intricate jewellery that involves complex craftsman shift and just demands to be admired. Some of these designs include a number of different stones of different colours, two-tone bands of different precious metals and a variety of other innovations and design features. Over the top rings are far more likely to be unique in their stylings as compared to most other rings available on the market which can provide that degree of exclusivity. Additionally, if you spend money on one of these rings it’ll show through the complexity of the design and setting of the stones.

Which To Choose?
The answer depends on both your personal taste and that of your partner. Whatever your budget, you should be able to find plenty of options in both categories, although it’s a good idea to find out what your partner actually likes before making any decision. Try to take photos of your partner’s existing rings to take in to the jewellers, or look at what kind of styles she seems to prefer – putting in this kind of research work might just pay off when it comes to choosing the perfect engagement ring design.

Finding The Band
A ring is composed of two general components – the band and the stones. Fairly obviously, the band is the metal that wraps around the finger and houses the stones, which provide the glamour and sparkle to any ring. The band is often treated as a secondary consideration to the stones but is nevertheless very important in augmenting the appearance of the ring and in making the ring a desirable object. The most popular bands available are gold, white gold, platinum and silver, although the latter is very much ‘out of fashion’ at the moment.

The Stones
The stones really are the crowing glory of any ring. When it comes down to it, diamond rings are usually considered most desirable, although this is down to your individual tastes, despite the fact that diamonds themselves vary dramatically in size, colour and clarity. The key thing to looks for in any diamond is how clear it is to look through. Diamonds with imperfections and flaws will be much cheaper, but will nevertheless only be detectable on close scrutiny as anything less than perfect. What this means is that buying a diamond with a number of flaws may work out cheaper when it comes to pricing the ring. Of course perfect diamonds are very rare, but by making it clear that diamond quality is not your number one priority, you can achieve a substantial cost saving without giving cause for any negative aesthetic properties in your stone.

Key Factors
* diamond clarity – do you care? It could just save you a pretty penny
* band metal – what does your partner prefer?
* band style – elegant and plain or brash and stylish?