If you’re looking for a diamond engagement ring, you may want to learn a few details about diamonds as well as gold and silver which are used for settings. When you visit a jeweler, they will be able to show you a variety of diamond engagement rings and discuss their individual qualities.
Diamonds are produced in mines throughout the world. There are approximately 130 million carats of diamonds available from a variety of sources. Diamonds, as you may be aware, are known to be the hardest available substance, and rank 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scales.
Most of natural diamonds are used for industrial purposes. This consists of between 75% to 80% of the diamonds that are mined. The remaining diamonds will be used to create gemstones for jewelry, fine watches, and other purposes.
When evaluating a diamond’s value, experts will consider the following factors:
- Color
- Carat
- Clarity
- Cut
A gemstone’s color is considered to be the most important factor. When evaluating this aspect, experts will also consider these factors:
- Hue
- Tone
- Saturation
Settings are available in precious metals such as 24-karat gold, 14-karat rose gold, and sterling silver. The most common jewelry alloy being used for fine jewelry in the United States is 24-karat gold. You may be interested in know that in order for an item to be legally sold as gold jewelry, it needs to consist of at least 10-karat gold. The color associated with 14-karat rose gold is attained by adding copper to 58.5% pure gold.
In the United States, the percentage of silver contained within a piece of jewelry is also a determining factor. For an item to be referred to as silver, sterling silver, or sterling, it has to include a minimum of 92.5% pure silver.
Once you choose the perfect diamond engagement ring, you’ll want to ask about jewelry maintenance. It’s also a good idea to have the ring appraised for insurance purposes.
If you’re planning to have a jeweler create a unique engagement ring, you may also want to think about having a custom wedding band made. Matching wedding rings are popular with many couples, complete with a special message of love and commitment engraved inside.