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Jewelry, Gold, Silver, Platinum, Gemstones, Diamonds - popular articles

The engagement ring buying guide will give you clear and useful information about buying the perfect engagement ring for the woman you love.

How much should I spend? The engagement ring may be the single most important gift you will ever give. Budget is the key. The generally established rule is that a man should spend roughly two months salary on the engagement ring. Most men spend more than they plan to. The chart below may help you.

Annual Income

$30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000

Spending Estimate

$5,000 $5,667 $8,333 $10,000 $11,667 $13,333

We recommend that you do not commit yourself to a set dollar amount before you familiarize yourself with all the options.

Choose the Right Stone

The gemstone is the centerpiece of the ring and the first thing people notice. It will also account for the overall cost of the ring. To make the right choice, you should familiarize yourself with the 4 C's of a diamond - Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat.

The majority of diamond engagement rings today are set with round diamonds. Most of the remaining rings are set with the princess cut

What Size Will It Be? After you have decided the shape of your diamond, you need to determine its size. You will find a wide range of diamond sizes available within your determined budget.

What Quality will the Diamond Be?

The quality, value and cost of the diamond are determined by the 4 C’s.-Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat weight.

Cut: The cut of a diamond refers to its angles, shapes and proportions. An expertly cut diamond is one that optimizes its natural radiance and maximizes its sparkle - also known as brilliance. At Diamonds on Fifth we carry only ideal, very good, and good cut diamonds which produce the most brilliance.

Color: Diamonds are judged by their color or lack thereof. In most cases, the more colorless the diamond, the higher its value. For the best value, choose a colorless or near-colorless diamond that has no noticeable color. The color of a diamond is classified and rated using a color scale which proceeds in alphabetical order from D to Z with D representing colorless and Z representing yellow tone.

Clarity: A diamond’s clarity is rated by the number, size and position of its internal inclusions or flaws. The fewer the flaws, the more valuable the stone. Diamonds are classified according to their position on the GIA clarity scale, from FL (flawless) to I3 (imperfect, inclusions visible to the naked eye.)

Carat: The “carat” is a unit of measurement used to weigh diamonds. Although a higher carat weight may increase its rarity and value, the cut color and clarity of the diamond greatly influence the price. Small stones can be more expensive than larger stones if the other 3 C’s, color, cut and clarity, rate highly.