WHY 3/4 CARAT DIAMONDS?
You might have been dreaming of a 1 carat diamond engagement ring since you were little. Now that you are all grown up, it’s time to re-evaluate what you really want out of our wedding jewelry. There are many factors to consider, from the usual Cs of shopping for diamonds, from carat size, quality, cut, color and clarity to how much you have budgeted for your new ring.
Most people don’t understand, for example, that jumping from a 1/2 carat diamond to a 1 full carat is not simply twice the price. It’s often exponential, because a 1 carat is far more rare in its faceted, finished form than a 1/2 carat, which is a lot more common. That’s why we recommend considering a 3/4 carat diamond ring instead, as you will get the best of both worlds, between size, rarity, quality and price. You may even want to consider slightly under an actual 0.75 carat, by choosing a 0.70-0.74 carat, which will save you even more money in the end.
With the increasing expense of weddings, marriage, family and life in general (not to mention rising inflation), now is the time to get that dream wedding and engagement ring without sacrificing quality and value, but realizing that not everyone in the world has to specifically have a 1 carat engagement ring! It’s just not always feasible.
CERTIFIED DIAMONDS
So when shopping around for jewels, consider getting a GIA certified or other U.S. certified stone, such as EGL, from a trusted jewelry, whether in person or online. We prefer online for such purchases, because you can really do some comparison price shopping. When it comes to certified gems and diamonds, you get what you get and the paper certificate that should accompany the purchase never lies, as it is verified by an independent grading company, such as the Gemological Institute of America. GIA was was established in 1931 as an independent non-profit that, according to their website, “protects the gem and jewelry buying public through research, education and laboratory services.” Therefore, whether purchasing online or at a local jeweler, you have the security of knowing you are getting the diamond color, clarity, cut and carat that you paid for.
DIAMOND COLOR
Now, just choose the quality that you prefer. We usually recommend starting with an G or H Color and SI1 or SI2 clarity as the base, and then go up and down from there depending on your budget. As you go into lower colors like I, J or K, expect to see some yellow tints in the diamond vs. G-H which is nearly colorless. If you want a truly impeccable diamond color, consider getting a D-F Color (colorless) stone.
DIAMOND CLARITY
Color and clarity are generally the most important factors when it comes to quality. Again, we recommend starting with a baseline of SI1 or SI2 clarity, which means “small inclusions” will be visible to the naked eye, although most of these inclusions or imperfections will be hardly noticeable to most and more likely to be seen under a jeweler’s magnifier. From there you can go up to a VS clarity (very small inclusions) which are only visible under a magnifying lens or VVS clarity which is pretty much the top of the line for most retail diamonds.
Equipped with information and knowledge, go ahead and find that perfect 3/4 carat diamond ring and save yourself the money to put towards your new life with your new spouse!
