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).
Tiffany Engagement Rings
If you've got some money to play with, and are looking for something that extra bit special, there are a number of luxury engagement ring options that you can choose.
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Now obviously you can make an expensive engagement ring just by choosing a very large diamond. Once you get above one or two carats in diamond size, the price of an engagement ring skyrockets. But that's not the only way to get a luxury extra special ring.
Most people have heard of Tiffany's – Tiffany engagement rings represent the cream of the crop. Tiffany and Co have been in operation for more a century and have had a pivotal role in engagement ring development over the years.
You are unlikely to find poor quality diamonds in a Tiffany piece of jewellery, especially an engagement ring. That is probably part of the reason why their jewellery seems so expensive – when comparing with an equivalent ring from a normal store, a Tiffany's ring probably has a much higher quality stone. For example, a one carat Tiffany diamond engagement ring would typically cost upwards of $8000.
The name Tiffany is bound to draw admiration from fans of jewellery. However, there is no doubt that you could get an exactly equivalent ring and diamond from an online company for less money. But then, of course, it would not come with a Tiffany brand-name.
Ultimately, it comes down to this: just like in many other areas of the fashion world, if you shop around, you can probably get something which is nominally exactly the same as a Tiffany ring and quite a bit cheaper. But, just like the rest of the fashion world, you may wish to purchase the brand-name and get the quality that is synonymous with Tiffany diamond engagement rings.