Although there is a traditional guideline of using two months' salary as an approximate budget in buying an engagement ring, only you know your own financial situation well enough to make a determination.
Some advice:
- Set a budget. BrightDiamond.com has diamonds for all budgets.
- Buy the largest "small" diamond available. You want to find a good balance between quality and size.
- Choose a diamond that is not a "perfect" size. A perfect size is an increment of 0.25-carat, 0.50-carat, 0.75-carat, or 1.00-carat. A 0.99-carat or 1.01-carat diamond will be less expensive than a 1.00-carat, and you can then buy a diamond of better quality.
- If you need to compromise on a characteristic of a diamond, compromise on the clarity. It is the least discernable quality to the naked eye. Diamonds with VSS or VS clarities are excellent choices for appearance as the inclusions are not visible to the naked eye. Even diamonds with clarities of SI1 or SI2, which are known as "eye-clean," have inclusions that are visible only to the sharpest eyes if not magnified.
- Emerald-cut diamonds are beautiful, but it is easiest to see inclusions in this shape. If you are choosing an emerald-cut diamond, be sure to choose a diamond that is of high quality in both color and clarity.
- Cut is the most important "C" in determining the quality of a diamond. While a diamond does not need to be "Ideal Cut" or "Very Good Cut" to be stunning, compromise on the cut grade last.
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