Conflict diamonds, rather than being a positive symbol of your love, instead fuel hatred, bloodshed and terrorist acts. When you are shopping for diamonds, it is important to avoid buying these hate-fueled stones, thereby ensuring no one is profiting from them on your part.

Conflict Diamonds – The Basics

Also referred to as blood diamonds, conflict diamonds are stones sold by rebel groups to fund their horrible activities. Human rights issues, such as child or slave labor, state violence, the exploitation of workers and other abuses are common practices that are funded by the sale of these stones.

Conflict diamonds are characterized by their typical unpolished finish, and are frequently traded for weapons and other things. If you buy a conflict diamond, knowingly or otherwise, you are helping to fund these rebel groups and their illegal activities. What’s more, each blood diamond that is purchased lowers the country’s economic stability, which in itself creates a host of additional problems.

Where are Conflict Diamonds Found?

Typically, conflict diamonds are smuggled throughout the Central and Western portions of Africa – in fact, these places are the top diamond smuggling areas in the entire world.

The trouble with identifying conflict diamonds and non-conflict diamonds lies in their appearance. Once a conflict diamond has been cut and polished, they do not look any different than their legitimate counterparts.

Finding a Non-Conflict Diamond for your Engagement Ring

Thankfully, there are things you can do to reduce the chances that you are buying a conflict diamond. Visit a reputable jeweler, and don’t be afraid to ask where the diamond came from (i.e., where it was mined and imported from.) A reputable jeweler will have no problem answering your questions, and you should avoid any diamonds that come from the chief smuggling areas of the world, as well as neighboring countries that may help fuel oppression and bloodshed with the sale of illegitimate stones.

Keep an eye out for any warning signs, as well. For example, if you find a particularly high quality stone for an insanely low price, this could be an indication that the stone was obtained very cheaply. In this instance, you may be unknowingly purchasing a conflict diamond while thinking you are getting a great bargain.

While your diamond engagement ring will be a symbol of love and commitment, a ring with a conflict diamond only symbolizes hate, oppression and bloodshed. Shop for your diamonds very carefully so your engagement ring will be a symbol of unity, not a symbol of hate.

What Kind of Diamond Shapes Are There?

Before you can choose a diamond shape for your engagement ring, you should familiarize yourself with the kinds of shapes that are available. These included:

• Oval
• Round
• Heart
• Emerald
• Pear
• Marquise
• Princess
• Radiant
• Trilliant
• Asscher

While your personal preferences will obviously come into play as far as what diamond shape you choose, there are other factors to consider.

Things to Consider

Before choosing a diamond shape, you should carefully consider which shape would be not only something you like, but practical as well.

For example, you want to make sure the stone’s dimensions are good. A poorly cut diamond (no matter what shape it is) will reveal imperfections and flaws and not look as brilliant as you want it to.

You also need to take into account the size of your band. A wider band can handle elongated diamonds, while a thin or narrow band is complemented by round or square shaped stones. Try on a bunch of different rings with diamond shapes you’re interested in, as well, because you want to make sure the shape of the stone complements your hand.

If you are thinking of incorporating accent stones into the design of your engagement ring, consider how those accents will affect the shape of your central stone.

Judging the Quality of a Diamond

After you’ve decided on a diamond shape for your engagement ring, it’s important to understand how to judge the quality of the stone you’re interested in.

Learning about the 4 C’s (cut, color, clarity and carat weight) will help you in determining the quality of the diamond, and enable you to make good choices. The type of stone shape you choose will have its own pros and cons, so learning about the 4 C’s will help you to find the perfect stone for your engagement ring.

If you are having a hard time finding a particular diamond shape, you may need to solicit the help of a designer to craft the perfect diamond for you. Most jewelers stock a limited selection of some of the more basic diamond shapes, but a specialty shape may require you to look elsewhere.

While personal preference is important when choosing a particular diamond shape, you still need to consider how to design your engagement ring to best flatter that shape. By learning all you can about judging diamond quality and the different shapes available to you, you can find the perfect diamond that fits your budget, your ring and your personal taste!

What Are My Options?

When looking for an inexpensive diamond engagement ring, you have several options available to you.

Online Auctions

With online auctions, you are not limited to your physical location and can search hundreds of listings worldwide for a low-cost diamond engagement ring. While online jewelry auctions are a convenient way to shop for a ring, it’s important to only deal with reputable sellers. While you can often snag a beautiful engagement ring for much less than you could find elsewhere, completely research the seller and their feedback to make sure they are legitimate.

Secondhand Rings

Buying a used or secondhand engagement ring does have an undeniably negative stigma attached to it, but used engagement rings can be just as beautiful as the real deal for significantly less than you’d pay elsewhere. What’s more, many antique stores or vintage shops offer used engagement rings in unique patterns or styles you can’t find elsewhere.

Colored Diamonds

Choosing a colored diamond for your engagement ring rather than the traditional colorless stone can help you save money, as well. You can buy a colored diamond in nearly any hue, from blues to yellows and greens to black diamonds and everything in between.

Champagne diamonds are probably the cheapest option of all the colored diamonds, but no matter which color you choose they offer and affordable and unique alternative to traditional engagement rings.

Use a Cheaper Metal

To help find cheaper diamond engagement rings while still maintaining the quality of the piece, consider using a cheaper metal for the ring. Metals such as platinum are very expensive, but white gold is a suitable alternative and costs much less.

Other Things to Consider

Finding a cheap diamond engagement ring doesn’t have to be an exercise in futility, especially when you keep a few things in mind. For example, concentrate on buying the highest quality diamond you can afford. Even if you have to skimp on the setting, you can always have the diamond reset when you are more financially secure.

You should also ensure you only buy a certified diamond and that it comes with a certificate guaranteeing the stone as such. This will be necessary to insure your diamond and help protect your investment should anything ever happen to it.

Finding a cheap diamond engagement ring takes a little extra effort, but that doesn’t mean you have to buy a sub-par piece of jewelry just because you don’t have a large budget to spend.

No matter where you buy an engagement ring, it doesn’t matter how much you spend on the ring, but rather what the ring symbolizes – the love between two people who plan to spend the rest of their lives together.

Determine What She Likes

Choosing a diamond is only one step in the process of finding the perfect diamond engagement ring for your bride-to-be. Before you can purchase a ring, you need to determine what kind of jewelry she likes. If you intend on keeping the proposal a secret until the big day, enlist the help of her friends or mother (if they can keep a secret, that is!) or take a peek at the jewelry she already owns. Does she own more white gold pieces, or does she prefer yellow gold? Do her tastes tend to be classic and understated or bold and elaborate? Learn as much as you can about the style of jewelry she prefers so you are able to buy an engagment ring she’ll love.

Figure Out How Much You Can Afford

A diamond engagement ring can be very expensive or quite affordable depending on how much you can afford to spend. While you want to buy the best quality diamond you can for your bride-to-be, that doesn’t mean you have to spend thousands of dollars if you are unable to. The setting, metal choice and the stone will all affect the final cost of the ring, so figure out what you are looking for and how much you can expect to pay for the diamond and setting you are interested in.

Learn What To Look For In A Diamond

A diamond engagement ring is one of the most important and major purchases you will make, so you should take the time to understand what you are buying before you commit. A diamond’s worth is judged by the 4 C’s (cut, clarity, color and carat weight.) Take the time to familiarize yourself with these and use them to judge which qualities are most important in a diamond for you and your bride-to-be. Learning about the various diamond shapes and sizes will also help you narrow down your choice to find the perfect diamond engagement ring that your budget will allow. You should also settle on a setting and band for your ring. Different metals will affect the final cost of the engagement ring as some metals (such as platinum) are more expensive than others.

Finding the perfect diamond engagement ring for your bride-to-be can seem like a daunting task. If you take the time to learn about diamonds and ring styles, however, you can ensure the ring you end up buying will be cherished and loved for the rest of your lives together.

What are Pink Diamonds?

While colorless diamonds are comprised of pure carbon, a certain type of chemical reaction affects how some diamonds reflect light, which results in colored diamonds. Gemologists aren’t sure what creates pink diamonds; as such, pink diamonds are very rare and quite expensive.

How to Determine Quality

Pink diamonds are still diamonds, so you should familiarize yourself with the 4 C’s (cut, color, clarity and carat weight.) While these are all very important when determining the value of a pink diamond, the intensity of color is the most telling characteristic of a pink diamond.

Pink diamonds are available in a range of hues, from a very light pale pink to deep magenta. The more intense the color, the higher the cost. The majority of commercial pink diamonds come in lighter hues, but even so they are still more expensive than traditional colorless diamonds because of their rarity. While pink diamonds should, ideally, be relatively flawless, many jewelers will work around a flaw because of the stone’s rarity, even though most flaws can decrease the value of a gem in typical circumstances. However, because pink diamonds are so rare, jewelers are able to work around some flaws and create unique designs and patterns that they wouldn’t bother doing with similar quality flawed gemstones.

Using Pink Diamonds in Engagement Rings

Pink diamonds are a unique choice for engagement rings and are just as symbolic as traditional white diamonds. If you choose a pink diamond for your engagement ring, there are a variety of styles, settings and shapes to choose from. If you are lucky enough and able to afford a loose stone, you can find a reputable jeweler to create a custom engagement ring for you.

Avoid yellow gold bands when using pink diamonds, as the gold can cast a yellowish hue onto the stone. Instead, stick with white gold or platinum for your band. Because pink diamonds are so unique, couples would do well to create a simple setting, perhaps with accent stones, to complement the diamond.

Even though pink diamonds are an increasingly popular choice for use in engagement rings, their inherent rarity and cost can be a stretch for some couples. If that is the case, consider using pink diamonds as accent stones rather than the center stone. Alternatively, other pink stones such as pink sapphires, tourmaline or lighter hued rubies are an excellent choice and more affordable.

For the bride-to-be who desires a distinctive, unique engagement ring, pink diamonds are an excellent gemstone. Though rare and quite expensive, their cost hasn’t stopped many couples from turning to this beautiful diamond for use in their engagement ring.

Common Online Auction Scams

The convenience and sheer variety of things you can buy using an online auction make shopping for an engagement ring online much less of a hassle, but there are still those unscrupulous sellers who only care about making a quick buck. With that being said, watch out for these common online auction scams:

1. Selling stolen goods
2. Providing fake documents (like appraisals and certificates) to raise the cost of a ring
3. Refusing to ship the ring after it has been bought and paid for
4. Knowingly falsifying information about the ring, such as the condition of the stone, the type of metal, etc.
5. Intentionally selling a ring as genuine when it is actually an imitation diamond or other gemstone
6. Shipping an item that in no way matches the description or photographs of the ring you thought you were purchasing

While there’s no way to guarantee you will be able to avoid an illegitimate sale 100% of the time, there are warning signs to watch for and ways to protect yourself.

What to Watch For

If you take the time to do your research and carefully review information, you can avoid nearly any online auction scam that comes your way. If you notice any of the following warning signs, carefully verify the legitimacy of the ring you are interested in buying and the information the seller presents:

1. Are there photos? If not, or they are unable to be viewed clearly, the seller may have something to hide about the condition of the ring
2. Does the deal sound too good to be true? In most cases, if a ring is priced far below market value, there’s a good chance it’s not the real thing – or there’s something else fishy going on
3. Are there a variety of payment options, or does the seller only accept cash? If you are unable to use the payment method you are most comfortable with, this may signal a problem
4. Does the seller refuse to answer questions about the item? If so, it may not be legit
5. Does the seller provide detailed information about the ring and gemstone? If not, you may want to consider purchasing the ring elsewhere

If any of these warning signs applies to the auction you’re looking at, you need to do your best to verify the legitimacy of the seller. Carefully review the feedback sent by other customers, especially paying attention to any negative remarks.

You’ll also need to read the auction carefully, making sure all of your questions about the quality and condition of the ring are met to your satisfaction. Pay attention to seller’s return policy and guarantee, if any. If there are no photographs, ask for them!

If possible, use a payment method that will protect you in the event of fraud. If the seller only accepts cash or money orders, do your business elsewhere. If you purchase a ring, consider having it appraised and make sure you are able to send the ring back if the appraisal doesn’t satisfy you.

While this information may scare you away from buying your engagement ring online, there are actually plenty of deals to be had from online auction sites. If you carefully research the seller and have your purchase appraised, you can save a lot of money on a beautiful engagement ring that’s worth every (honest) penny spent!

What are Treated Diamonds?

A treated diamond is one that has undergone a process to enhance the appearance of the stone. Treatments can be used to alter or enhance the color of a diamond or minimize the appearance of flaws, thereby enhancing the overall look.

Synthetic or imitation diamonds (stones that have been created in a lab) are made to look very close to the real thing. For most people, a synthetic diamond can substitute for a natural diamond with no one the wiser unless they have a trained eye.

Natural diamonds that have been treated usually undergo a treatment process to enhance the overall appearance of the stone, thereby (hopefully) increasing its value.

What Types of Treatments are There?

To enhance the quality of a diamond, there are several types of treatments that can be used. Certain processes are more popular than others, and specific treatments can be used to create “fancy” colored diamonds.

• High Pressure/High Temperature (HPHT)

This process means exactly what it says – a treatment of high pressure combined with high temperature can be used to create a variety of colors. It can make a diamond less colorful or create pink, yellow, brown or blue diamonds.

• Irradiation

It sounds scary, but using radiation to alter the color of a diamond is actually quite common. Irradiation treatments can create black, green or blue diamonds.

• Heat

A different and less potentially dangerous method of creating black diamonds, heat treatment can produce black diamonds by exposing a lower-quality diamond to intense temperatures over a period of time.

• Irradiation and Heat Treatment

When used together, diamonds can be altered to a variety of colors. First, a diamond is exposed to radiation followed by a period of intense heat treatment to form purple, blue, yellow, pink and brown diamonds.

Other treatment methods involve correcting inclusions and other flaws in a diamond to enhance the overall appearance of the stone.

Other Things to Consider

All jewelers are required to disclose whether the diamond you purchase has been treated or not. If you are knowingly purchasing a treated diamond, make sure you ask the jeweler for information regarding the treatment; i.e., when it was done, what special care instructions there are, if any, and what type of guarantee the company offers if a treated stone ever needs repairs.

Purchasing a treated diamond can be a lot more economical for couples who are on a tight budget. Don’t let the fact that the stones have been treated scare you away – treated diamonds can still be used to make beautiful engagement rings.

Diamond Shapes

For those who aren’t familiar with the 4 C’s of diamonds, diamond cuts and diamond shapes may seem interchangeable – they aren’t. A diamond’s cut refers to the number of facets in a diamond and how those facets are proportioned. Shape, on the other hand, is simply the overall outline of the finished diamond. Take the time to familiarize yourself with the various diamond shapes available and choose the one that best suits you and your bride-to-be’s budget, her personality and overall preference.

• Round

Round diamonds are arguably the most popular choice and are traditionally found in classic solitaire rings. The round diamond’s versatility make this an exceptionally popular choice, because it works well with a number of settings and accent stones.

• Emerald

Emerald diamonds feature a rectangular cut with trimmed corners. Because emerald shaped diamonds are elongated, couples often choose to place accent stones around the diamond to provide the overall appearance of balance.

• Pear

Also known as a teardrop diamond, pear shaped diamonds are very popular in jewelry, and more couples are turning to this shape as the focal point for an engagement ring. Pear shaped diamonds are usually left to stand alone, as the unique shape would be unbalanced with many accent stones.

• Heart

Romantic and a bit whimsical, heart shaped diamonds are exceedingly hard to find, as the cut can be difficult to make. If you choose a heart shaped diamond, carefully examine the stone to ensure there are no obvious flaws or imperfections present.

• Princess

Princess diamonds are square shaped and look exceptionally well set in a three-stone ring design because of their unique shape, which works well with accent stones. Examine the color of a princess shaped diamond carefully, as lower-quality diamonds can show color differences towards the corners of the stone.

• Marquise

Characterized by a slim oval shape with ends that taper into a point, the marquise diamond is a classic choice for a bride that loves the traditional look. While the stone can be used in engagement rings, marquise shaped diamonds are more often used in bridal ring sets.

• Oval

Oval diamonds are typically used in more elaborate settings, accented with other stones to complement the diamond. Ovals also work well as simple solitaires.

While these are the most common diamond shapes, specialty shapes such as trilliant, asscher or cushion diamonds are more rare and should be carefully selected because of their uniqueness.

It may seem intimidating when faced with so many diamond shapes to choose from, but with a little research and some careful planning, you can find the right diamond shape for a beautiful engagement ring the bride-to-be will love.

One of The 4 C’s – Clarity

If you are at all familiar with the 4 C’s of diamonds, you are aware that clarity plays an important role in determining the value of a diamond. Clarity refers to how clear a diamond is and the number of flaws present. There are very few gemstones that are completely flawless. Even the most visually stunning diamonds can have tiny flaws or cracks that aren’t really noticeable.  However, very visible imperfections can have a definite impact on the value of a stone. In order to fix these noticeable imperfections, diamonds can be treated to cover up some of the damage. While clarity treated diamonds can look brilliant and much clearer, the fact they have been artificially enhanced often makes them less valuable when compared to naturally clear stones.

While clarity treatments were largely looked down upon at first, there is no denying that many couples are turning to clarity enhanced diamonds for an affordable engagement ring that still looks amazing.

Clarity Treatments

There are two common treatments used to artificially enhance the clarity of diamonds.

Fracture Filling

Fracture filling is typically used to close small cracks that appear on a diamond. The cracks are filled in using a thin, glass-like film or silica resin. This treatment results in a practically invisible repair of the flaws, and can usually not be detected with the naked eye. If you purchase a diamond that has been fracture filled, you should be aware that this type of clarity treatment is not usually permanent. Because of this, most reputable jewelers will offer a guarantee that they will repair your diamond when and if the treatment doesn’t hold up.

Laser Drilling

Laser drilling is a common treatment used to remove minor flaws within a diamond, called inclusions. These inclusions can appear inside the gem as cloudy spots or dark-colored flaws. With this treatment, a laser is inserted into the diamond to create a small tunnel, whereby the flaw can oftentimes be removed or dissolved by the laser. Sometimes, a chemical substance can actually be inserted through the tunnel to bleach away the dark spot. Because laser drilling does not affect the durability of a diamond, it is usually favored over fracture filling. What’s more, this clarity treatment is more permanent.

Jewelers are required to disclose which diamonds have been clarity treated, but there are still unscrupulous dealers who do not have a customer’s best interests at heart. That’s why it’s important to only deal with reputable jewelers before purchasing a treated diamond, or any high quality jewelry for that matter.

While clarity enhanced diamonds were long looked down upon, they have become an extremely affordable option for couples that can not afford naturally flawless diamonds. Clarity treated stones are usually substantially cheaper than other diamonds that have not been artificially enhanced, and still sparkle as brilliantly as other stones.

Clarity

Clarity refers to the purity and clearness of a diamond. The number, size, location and nature of any imperfections found determines what clarity grade the diamond has. These imperfections are called inclusions if found internally and blemishes if the flaws are external.

If you purchase a diamond that has been disclosed as “clarity treated” prior to the sale, you should be aware of the two methods that can be used to enhance the clarity of a diamond – laser drilling and fracture filling.

Laser drilling involves drilling a tiny hole into the diamond, whereby the bulk of the imperfection can be removed. Fracture filling is used to fill in tiny cracks and flaws in a diamond with a clear, glass-like substance. This treatment is not permanent and will wear away over time.

Color

A diamond’s color involves assigning a grade to the diamond based on how much color is visible in the stone. Diamonds can range in shade from nearly colorless to yellow. They can also have slight tints of yellow, gray, or brown. Pink, blue, green, red, and intense yellow diamonds are also available but are exceptionally rare. As such, these “fancy” diamonds greatly enhance the value of the stone.

Some diamonds have been color treated before sale and should be disclosed as such. Color treated diamonds undergo a method of irradiation treatment followed by heat treatment to influence the color of the stone. In most cases, this method is not recommended because of the risk of the diamond changing color over time.

Cut

Proportions, finish, polish and symmetry combine to describe the cut of a diamond. Additionally, these factors help assess the brilliance of the stone (how well the diamond reflects light.)

Well cut diamonds will always be much more valuable than poorly cut stones, and as such will command a premium price. Because of this, diamond cutters take great care to cut diamonds to reflect the most light possible.

Carat Weight

Carat refers to the actual weight of the diamond, not the visual size. Carat weight is determined based on a 100 point system where 1 carat is equal to 0.20 grams. The larger the carat weight, the more valuable a diamond will be. For example, a 1 carat diamond will always be worth much more than 2 half-carat diamonds, because the 1 carat diamond is harder to find.

Clarity, color, cut and carat weight are all very important to determine the value of a diamond. Each factor must be taken into consideration when assessing the value of a stone. When taken together, the four C’s are a very accurate depiction of the worth of your diamond and can help you find the perfect stone for your needs.