Engagement Rings – Why Bigger Isn’t Always Better

When choosing an engagement ring, one can be naive and believe that the bigger the rock, the better. However, there are so many more elements to consider apart from the size of the diamond. The diamond size is not the key feature of the ring. In fact, a diamond need not even be the key stone of the ring. Emeralds, rubies and particularly sapphires have become quite popular as the feature stones of engagement rings. Princess Diana made this style of ring famous with the 18 carat sapphire gem engagement ring surrounded by smaller diamonds, given to her by Prince Charles. Of course, this ring re-appeared on the hand of Kate Middleton in recent years as Diana’s son Prince William of Britain presented his wife with that very ring.

If you are choosing a diamond as the centre stone of the ring, you have to consider the clarity, cut, carat and colour. The cut refers to the precise angle the diamond was cut. For an absolute precise cut diamond, you will be looking at the D-F range. The G-I range however offers more affordability and to the regular eye, the colour and cut of any diamond in this range would more than suffice.

Another important item to consider is the band of the ring itself. Gold, white gold and platinum are the popular metals of choice. Of course, budget will have a huge part to play in this decision. If you really want to impress, go for platinum – but be prepared to dig deep into your pocket. It is the most expensive metal, both for initial purchase and repairs. Yellow gold is the most popular choice of metal. It is low in cost, however it is most susceptible to damage. White gold is the “happy medium” choice, middle of the range in terms of price and durability.

Clarity refers to the purity of the diamonds in terms of defects. Again, to the untrained eye many of these imperfections can go unnoticed. However, the more you are willing to pay, the more “perfect” your diamond will appear. Colour refers to the transparency of the diamond. A completely transparent diamond will be of complete purity and will truly sparkle.

Before you consider the size of the diamond, you must consider these four c’s. It all depends on the taste and expectations of your potential fiancée. Perhaps they would appreciate a larger, not completely transparent stone on a yellow gold band. They may prefer a small cluster of E cut diamonds with a platinum band. If you go to a jewellers store with the mantra of “the bigger the diamond the better”, your budget may force you to cut back on other important elements such as the band type, colour, cut and clarity of the diamond. Would your potential bride be willing to sacrifice these elements for a big rock? I guess your decision just got that bit more difficult!

This article was written on behalf of Stonechat Jewellers. Stonechat Jewellers is a unique, Irish, modern jewellery shop located in the Westbury Mall, Dublin 2.