The First Time
Do Your Homework
Determine Her Style
Try to Make Sure She’ll Say Yes
Finding Her Size
How Much Should You Spend
Popping the Question
What to Consider When Buying the Rock
Certificates & Insurance

The First Time
Buying diamond jewelry for the first time, especially if it’s an engagement ring, can be as daunting a task as climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. And if you’re like most, you know little about these precious rocks, how much to spend or who to turn towards to guide you in the right direction. And why would you – you’ve never done this before! However, you do know one thing, the most important thing – you’ve got the right person. So really, the rest should be no sweat.

Here are some basic tips to begin:

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Do Your Homework
Before buying an engagement ring, it’s very important to do some research about what exactly goes into a diamond that makes it so special. We’ve got a tutorial on the 4Cs below, just to make life a little easier. You’ll also want to find a jeweler, like Creative Jewelers, with whom you can shop with confidence. We’re going to be your partner in all of this, so make sure you’re comfortable.

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Determine Her Style
Consider doing some window-shopping together prior to your purchase. This means leaving the surprise part until the actual proposal, but at least you’ll get her what she wants!

If you want the ring to be a true surprise, consult her friends and family, or us if she’s shopped here before, to get a feel for her likes and dislikes. After all, she’ll be wearing this for the rest of her life…or at least until you trade-up. A good option is to ask a friend or family member to go with you to look. Of course, be sure to pick someone with good taste!

And … pay attention to what she looks at/comments on in magazines, catalogues and such. Trust us … she’s dropping hints somewhere. Every girl does!

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Try to Make Sure She’ll Say Yes
This one may seem like a no-brainer, but trust us, it’s not. Once in a while, even though you think she’s ready, she’s not. Or maybe you think you’re ready, but you’re not. The reality of it is, you won’t be truly ready for a lifetime commitment until you’ve really faced some true relationship challenges, dealt with each other’s every mood, and gotten those indisputable signs that she, too, is ready to commit. Proposing too early may scare her off and that’s the last thing you’d want.

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Finding Her Size
Since most women prefer to be surprised for the actual “Will you marry me?” moment, figuring out what size ring she wears can prove to be quite a difficult task. If you can manage to break the secret code to her jewelry box, one way to determine her size is to “borrow” a ring of hers and to take it with you to the jewelry store. We have several ring-sizers that will be of great use.

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How Much Should You Spend
Once you’ve got a sense of what’s out there, and how much diamond you can get for your money, it’s time to think about your budget, and determine how much you can really afford.

You’ve probably heard about the general guideline of two month’s salary for an engagement ring. It’s a good place to start, but every situation is different. Remember, diamonds last forever and will always be an important symbol of your relationship. We recommend that you strive to achieve the right balance between size, quality and value to buy the best diamond you can afford. And we can certainly help you in determining your budget.

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Popping the Question
There are quite possibly thousands of ways to pop the question. Yet asking your girlfriend to become your wife may be the most fantastic and frightening thing you’ll ever do. The important thing to ultimately remember is that however you do it – be it funny, romantic, planned, spontaneous, in your home, while on vacation, etc. – you’ll want to make it a moment you’ll both remember forever. Below are a few tips to help you along the way.

1. Plan the proposal in advance. You’ll be nervous enough at the moment of the proposal, and the proper preparation will at least ease some of your fears. The last thing you want to be is tongue-tied.

2. Consider how she (not you) would really like to be proposed to. If you’ve got any friends who have gotten engaged before you, you know that your engagement tale will be told and retold by you fiancé over and over again for many years to come. So really take the time to consider what she would truly like. Wouldn’t it be nice if the story never got old in her mind?

3. Don’t be afraid to keep it simple. Not all proposals were meant to take place in Central Park or on top of the Empire State Building. Do what feels right – no matter how big or small.

4. Ask her parents in advance. We know you may not think it’s the ‘modern’ thing to do, but trust us, you’d rather have them on board than not. Asking her parents in advance still remains the polite and respectful thing to do. Additionally, asking her mom and dad for her hand in marriage is often the first bond you’ll share. It’s a good idea to start out on the right foot with the in laws, wouldn’t you agree?

5. Be sure to say, ”Will you marry me?” Of course you’ll be nervous, but don’t forget to get on bended knee and actually say those four amazing words. Whether she’ll admit it or not, most women have dreamed of the day you’re on bended knee, and isn’t this the best opportunity to make her dreams come true?

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Buying the Rock
Color, clarity, cut and carat are the four characteristics that determine a diamond’s rarity, and therefore its value (understanding the 4Cs can help you understand why diamonds of equal size may not be of equal value). It’s the synergy and the many different ways that each of the 4Cs can be combined that is the key to understanding what makes each diamond unique and valuable.

Cut
While there are many factors to bear in mind when choosing a diamond, diamond cut is probably the most important to consider, as it has a direct correlation to a diamond’s appearance. Cut is what helps to unleash a diamond’s fiery sparkle.

A well-cut diamond, regardless of shape, releases the fire and brilliance of a diamond through the proportion of its 57 or 58 facets (tiny planes that create angles), allowing the maximum amount of light to be reflected through the diamond. In order to maximize this fire and brilliance, a diamond cutter must place each of the stone’s facets and angles, which act as light-dispersing mirrors, in exact geometric relation to one another. Diamonds that are not cut to proper proportions (too deep or too shallow) lose light that spills through the side or bottom.

Diamond cut is graded by the GIA as Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. The Excellent cut grade from the GIA is only available for round brilliant diamonds. AGS grades diamonds as Ideal, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor.

Color
Color is the most subjective of the four Cs. While most diamonds appear white, virtually all display barely perceptible tints of color. Evaluating a diamond’s color for grading purposes is done by measuring the degree to which a diamond approaches colorlessness. Gemologists and jewelers describe the color of diamonds on a letter scale beginning with D (colorless) and moving through the alphabet to Z. The degree of colorlessness is not easily distinguishable to the untrained eye. D, E and F color grades are more expensive because they are more rare. However, well-cut diamonds with good clarity of all color grades can be equally dazzling as it is the interplay of the 4Cs which determines each individual stone’s unique beauty. Diamonds with a strong, pure color are extremely rare and are called “fancies,” and can be found in pink, blue, canary and many other colors.

Clarity
Clarity refers to the degree to which a diamond is free from naturally occurring inclusions, or a diamond’s natural birthmarks (these can look like tiny crystals, feathers or clouds). Because they are formed by nature, most diamonds do not contain some inclusions, but many are microscopic in nature and can only be glimpsed under powerful magnification through a standard 10-power jeweler’s loupe. Diamonds with the fewest inclusions are graded as VVS1 or VVS2; those on the other end of the scale are graded 11 or 13. The fewer inclusions, the more desirable (and rarer) the stone is.

Carat
The standard used to measure diamond weight (and therefore the size) is the carat. A carat equals 1/5 of a gram (or 1/142 of an ounce). Each carat is further divided into points, each point representing 1/100th of a carat (100 points equal one carat; 50 points, a half-carat; 25 points, a quarter-carat and so on). While weight may be the least important of the four Cs in determining value, it may be the easiest of the four Cs to gauge accurately and is the most objective.

As diamonds increase in size, their costs tend to increase exponentially rather than arithmetically. This is because when diamonds are mined, large stones are found much less frequently than small ones, which make large diamonds much more valuable. So, a 2-carat diamond of a given quality is always worth more than 1-carat diamonds of the same quality.

Shape
Two of the most commonly confused terms in diamond education are “shape” and “cut.” While cut is a technical quality, determined by the skill of the diamond cutter, the matter of shape is a personal choice.

More than 75% of all diamonds sold are round, thus being the most popular of all shapes. With 58 facets, the round brilliant gives off the greatest sparkle as a result of its 360-degree symmetrical shape.

Other traditional shapes include the marquise (oblong with pointed ends, or boat shaped) the pear (teardrop-shape), the oval, the emerald (square or rectangle shape with cut comers), the princess (square or rectangular modified brilliant cut, usually with 57 facets), the radiant (rectangular or square brilliant cut with 70 facets), the heart-shaped and the Asscher (almost octagonal).

In addition to the aforementioned, there are other, less common diamond shapes, generally used for smaller side stones. These include baguette, bullet, crescent, half moon, kite, shield, trapeze, pentagon and hexagon, just to name a few.

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Certificates & Insurance
For many people, a diamond ring is one of the biggest purchases of their lifetime, so it is important that you protect your investment by making sure you obtain both a gemological certificate as well as insurance.

A gemological certificate or a diamond grading report is a professional evaluation of a diamond’s quality and characteristics. A tangible document that attests to the quality and value of your ring is imperative for insurance purposes in the case of loss or theft.