A layman would say that you should spend two month’s salary on buying an engagement ring. But, the confusion is from where & how to start? Buying an engagement ring is a piece of cake; buying a good one is a little trickier.

A diamond engagement ring could be one of the biggest purchases you’ve ever made. It is both a financial and an emotional investment for the lifetime. It doesn’t stand as a symbol of your undying love only-- it will also tell her that you care enough to choose only the best. And we know how hard a decision it can be.

This is where we can help...

To get her to pick the ring of her choice would be the easiest way but, will you want to miss the pleasure of surprising her? Just recall if she ever shared her preferences regarding style of the ring or type of diamond with you. If not, a short tutorial is here to help you. With this, you’re sure to find a perfect ring that she will like.

The diamond plays the most significant role in a diamond engagement ring. So its always advisable to have some education before you look at your diamond. A diamond’s value is determined by four factors called it’s 4Cs. (Cut, Carat, Color & Clarity)

Cut – Cut determines brilliance of a diamond. Each diamond shape has its own set of guidelines for what makes a Premium or Good cut. The most popular and commonly preferred shape for diamonds is the round brilliant cut. A traditional woman will always like this shape. Another much loved shape is the princess-cut or square. It best fits those modern women who want a blend of class & style.

Carat – It is the measurement of a diamond’s weight. Each Carat is divided into 100 parts called 'points.' A 1 carat diamond has 100 points, a ½ carat diamond has 50 points so on. Although 1 carat diamond is a popular choice but you can always go for bigger diamonds of 2 or 3 carats, depending upon your budget.

Color & Clarity - the less color a diamond has, the more valuable it is, other factors being equal. There is diamond color grading system which uses alphabets from D through M. Diamonds with a color grade of D, E or F are most colorless; G, H, and I are near colorless. Picking a diamond from the color grade of G, H, I is a good idea as it looks white and beautiful to a naked eye & has a good value.

Clarity refers to how much clear a diamond is internally. The fewer and less obvious the inclusions, the more valuable the diamond. There is a clarity grading scale; F-IF (flawless), VVS1-VVS2 (very-very slight inclusions), VS1-VS2, SI1-SI2 & so on. I recommend that you select an “eye-clean” diamond – where inclusions are not visible to the naked eye. But if you’d rather not compromise on color but would like to stay on budget, go for SI1-SI2 clarity. If you want better clarity yet budget conscious, choose a diamond with H or I color.

Finally, decide upon the type of metal you want your diamond to hold in. Gold has always been a desired metal, but platinum is getting popularity these days. It’s purity, beauty & luster perfectly compliment diamonds and it’s durability & strength ensures that your engagement ring will last a lifetime. As I told earlier that gold is the most popular option and is available in 14K & 18K and in both yellow & white colors. If you want the look & beauty of platinum while staying in budget, go for 14K white gold.

No matter what diamond engagement ring you buy, as long as it's given with all your love, your bride-to-be is sure to love it. Good Luck!