When you’re shopping for your engagement ring, there are a lot of factors to consider. You want it to be big, but not too big; expensive, but not outrageously so; and beautiful — but does it need all that blue haloing around the edges? This article will walk you through some tips for picking out the perfect diamond rings in Australia with respect to size and cut.
The average size of the diamond is ¼ carat
You already know that the average engagement ring consists of a diamond weighing in at one carat, but what about wedding bands? The average cost of diamond rings in Australia is $4,000, while the average price of a wedding band is $1,000. That makes an overall diamond cost per pair of rings around $6,000 (or about $30 per day).
Okay—so you can’t afford to buy your significant other two new pairs every day for their finger, and there are other things to worry about besides that. Still, if it were possible and practical, would you?
If your answer isn’t “yes!” you may need to re-evaluate your priorities.
The clarity of the diamond should be “Eye Clean” (SI1-SI2)
The clarity grade of a diamond is an indication of how many internal and external flaws it has.
The two highest grades are SI1 (slightly included) and SI2 (internally flawless). The best type of diamond for daily wear is one that’s been graded as SI1. It has some minor flaws, but nothing visible to the naked eye. For special occasions or other times when you want to stand out from the crowd, choose an SI2 diamond instead—it’s genuinely flawless!
If you’re looking for something even better than an SI2, consider buying an SP1 (special-screened) or SP2 (special-pavé) diamond instead. These are the highest quality available at retail prices.
Colouring should be White (colourless)
The most critical factor in selecting your ideal diamond is its colour. To be considered a high-quality diamond, it must be “colourless.” This means there are no traces of yellow, brown or green tinting the stone—what you see is what you get. (A word of caution: some diamonds with very slight hues may still qualify as colourless.)
The other quality worth considering when purchasing a ring for daily wear is clarity. Clarity refers to how many flaws appear on the diamond’s surface and how noticeable they are. Flaws in clarity include chips or breaks in the gem, inclusion lines (small surface markings), feathers (fine lines on one side) and clouds (darkening). The fewer flaws visible on your stone, the more valuable it will be because there are fewer ways for light to escape from within the gem. This results in more incredible brilliance and fire than would otherwise exist without them being present at all times during use.
A very good cut will help reflect more light
Whether you are shopping for an engagement ring or just a simple pair of stud earrings, knowing what kind of diamond cut will give you the most sparkle and fire is essential. The cut grade refers to the shape of a diamond and how well it reflects light. For example, if you look at two similar diamonds side by side and one appears brighter than the other even though they have identical clarity grades, it’s likely that the brighter-looking stone has been given a better cut grade.
The ideal diamond shape for daily wear is called “brilliant.” This means that all facets on your ring or necklace create an octagon shape (8-sided), producing more sparkle than other shapes like round or pear-shaped diamonds.
