Diamonds

The shape of a diamond is a matter of personal taste, but by far the most popular shape sold world-wide is the round brilliant. Nothing says, 'I love you' more than a round brilliant solitaire engagement ring. The tradition of engagement rings began with Maximilian I in 1477 when he gave an engagement ring to his future wife Mary, initiating a custom for future grooms ever since.

This round brilliant cut is the most popular for engagement rings and other uses because it shows the natural light, fire and beauty of diamonds better than any other cut and can be used in a wide variety of jewelry. The round cut has been perfected over the last 100 years using advanced theories of light refraction and precise mathematical calculations to optimize the beauty of the stone. The round cut takes a diamond cutter up to 4 or 5 times longer to polish than any other cut making it the most expensive cut. The stone usually retains more weight from the unpolished stone if it is cut into a fancy cut (any cut other than the round) than if it is cut into a round.

Gemologists frequently recommend purchasing a round diamond with a rating of at least very good for symmetry and a good rating for polish if possible in order to acquire a valuable diamond.

When selecting the ideal stone for a woman, the size of her hand should be taken into account. A woman with a small hand will probably look better when dressed in a round or princess cut ring. Heavier, more elaborate settings would overpower the hand and not be as appealing.

If size is important, consider the following. Shape plays a major roll in deciding how large a stone looks. Cuts with a large table (surface area), but less depth may look larger than stones cut in with a smaller table but more depth. Thus, a one carat emerald shaped diamond may look larger than a two carat round diamond with a smaller table. However, since diamonds are measured in carat weight, one should keep in mind that looks can be deceiving.

The diamond solitaire is the perfect expression of love whether it is set in yellow gold, white gold, platinum, titanium or a combination of these metals. However, the solitaire is not the only engagement ring. Many brides today prefer rings with side stones.

Side-stone rings consist of at least three diamonds-the center stone and two or more side stones-and the setting. Again, this may one single metal or any combination of.

Another alternative is matching bridal sets. The bride receives an engagement ring and a wedding band of matching design. If desired, the man may also have a matching wedding band. Sets are usually less expensive than buying all three rings separately.

Beautiful diamonds come in all shapes, sizes and settings. Round brilliant diamonds are highly versatile and are not limited to engagement rings and wedding bands. They may be used in any jewelry design with success. The choice is limitless and strictly up to the consumer.