Tips for Creating a Custom Engagement Ring with Loose Diamonds

When shopping for an engagement ring, you’ll quickly discover that the selection is overwhelming. This is especially true if you’re shopping “blindly,” without a preconceived notion of what you’re looking for. If you do have an idea of what you want, however, a loose diamonds and custom settings may be the way to go.

In order to create a custom engagement ring with loose diamonds, there are a few things you should know prior to jumping into the diamond market. First of all, there are not only many different styles and sizes of diamonds to choose from, but also different specifications of clarity and color. Secondly, it’s important to be sure that the setting you choose is appropriate for the diamond ring you are considering. Don’t sweat this aspect though. You don’t have to be a diamond expert to design a custom ring – your jeweler will have recommendations for you regarding what setting is appropriate for the engagement or wedding rings you’re looking at.

Loose Diamonds 101
Putting together a custom engagement ring with loose diamonds has never been easier, as the diamond market has begun to cater to this demand. However, there are a few things you should know before venturing into the world of diamonds in order to ensure that you really get what it is that you’ve envisioned.

The basics of diamond selection are based on a rating scale which is commonly known as the “four C’s.” The four C’s refer to Color, Clarity, Carat Weight and Cut. The cut refers to the shape of the stone, and you’re choice in this area should be based on what is pleasing to you aesthetically, but will also prove to be influential in the choice of ring setting. Carat weight is self-explanatory, indicating the size of the diamond. Traditional diamonds are devoid of color, being completely transparent, but there are diamonds which exhibit a light hue. This is not a flaw, but a matter of preference. And finally, the most subtle aspect of determining the value and quality of loose diamonds is that of clarity. The higher the clarity of a diamond, the less flaws and variable reductions in transparency are inherent within the stone. Completely flawless loose diamonds of larger size are increasingly rare and therefore more valuable. On the other hand, most internal flaws in diamonds are invisible to the naked eye, and so the importance of this particular factor is largely a matter of personal preference.

While the diamond industry places a large emphasis of the above-mentioned “four C’s,” from a consumer perspective, there is also a fifth “C” that you should be aware of, and that one stands for “Certified.” Certified diamonds are issued with a “Diamond Certificate” through an independent agency, and this designation not only assures that you’re getting what you pay for, but also that the diamond you purchase has been brought to you through humane channels of production.