Quick and Easy Buying Guide
Carat weight: 1 carat = 200 milligrams = 6.5 mm diameter. Doubling weight doesn't double diameter.
Diamond clarity: FL/IF/VVS/VS = super expensive, near perfect. SI = best value if you can check a photo for obvious inclusions (defects).
Color: D-G = colorless, expensive, only if you have money to burn. H-J = best value. Can go lower in gold metal settings than white metal.
Cut: Better cut ratings let more light into a diamond, making it sparkle more. Very important property, don't skimp here.
Set a budget and minimum cut (Premium). Go J color for gold and I/H for white metals. Go searching for SI1/SI2 clarity diamonds at James Allen. Pick a diamond with small/no inclusions. Choose a ring setting and buy it risk-free (60-day returns).
Diamond Ring Guards
Diamond ring guards are in addition to standard diamond engagement ring that offer protection and potentially increase the visual appeal of the ring.
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Some diamond engagement ring designs are particularly delicate. For example, the engagement ring I purchased was a 2 mm solitaire band setting. While this ring is attractively delicate, the edges are not particularly robust and would be likely to chip or band if subjected to a significant impact.
In this order situation you can add a diamond ring guard to the ring to provide some additional protection to the centre ring and the diamond setting.
A diamond ring guard is typically made out of a normal ring metal such as yellow or white gold and platinum. If the diamond ring guard is being added to increase the visual appeal of the ring as well is protected, the ring guard may have additional diamonds set in it. It may also have other stones such as semiprecious gems set in it.
The diamond ring guard can sit loosely next to the original ring on both sides, or it can be more permanently attached through soldering. One consideration with soldering is that you may inadvertently decrease the ability of the diamond guard to protect the original ring. If you snag the guard on something, you may in calling away also damage the original ring, which is rigidly attached to the guard.
A typical diamond ring guard will be on both sides of the ring. This arrangement offers maximum protection to the ring from impacts from all directions.