Disclaimer: This may not really be the answer you expected or wanted to hear. What should you look for when choosing an diamond ring? Make sure you buy an artificial diamond ring. First of all, diamonds have no inherent value. Their value is created artificially. There's only one big supplier of diamonds (De Beers), and they do several things to artificially inflate the price they can ask for diamonds. They keep the supply low, they make people believe that you shouldn't re-sell diamond rings or buy used diamond rings (so they have no resale value), and they make people believe that you need to give a diamond ring to your girlfriend when you propose to her. There's another reason why diamonds from De Beers are a bad gift. Miners and diamond cutters who mine and cut these diamonds are treated like slaves and are often underage. The money you give to De Beers doesn't go to these people, but to the governments and rebel forces in Africa and thus funds civil wars in Africa. Diamonds thus hardly represent love. If you really need to give a diamond ring, give an artificial diamond. Artificial diamonds are a lot less pricey and do not exhibit imperfections that are inherent to natural diamonds. The money you pay for them does not go towards funding wars and enslaving children. They are actually cheaper, morally superior *and* qualitatively better than natural diamonds. My opinion? Instead of buying a diamond ring, give her some other gift or simply use the money for a nice honeymoon :-) For more information, read these links: http://www.anti-slaverysociety.addr.com/diamonds.htm http://www.fguide.org/Bulletin/conflictdiamonds.htm Addendum: Some people called artificial diamonds "fake". This is not correct. Artificial diamonds are not fake. The are the same as natural diamonds, just not grown by nature, but by man. The only difference visible in the actual diamond is that they don't show the imperfections normally inherent to natural diamonds, so quality-wise, they're actually better. They can also be made larger than natural diamonds. Let me repeat: If you showed a professional diamond seller an artificial diamond, he could *not* see the difference between this one and a real one. Some links about this: http://wired-vig.wired.com/wired/archive/11.09/diamond.html http://www.grabdiamonds.com/Artificial-Diamonds.html Others said things to the effect that "women want real diamonds" and that if you don't give natural diamonds, there's something wrong with your relationship. Think about that for a second. You want to prove your love by giving a gem to your girl that was made by slaves. And you can't just call that "political" and ignore it. People die, children are enslaved, and the money you pay for your diamond ring, which is supposed to show your love, goes directly towards paying for that. Does that sound right to you? Or think about this: what kind of relationship are you in where your girl will only stay with you when you give her an expensive ring. There's something *really* wrong with your relationship when she will only respect you if you give her an expensive diamond ring. Frankly, I wouldn't want to marry a person who will so willingly be influenced by ads and will expect me to give her a real diamond, knowing how they're made. Personally, I'd rather marry somebody intelligent, somebody capable of critical thinking and of putting her heart before her need for a diamond ring. What does it say about your relationship if you feel forced to give her a natural diamond, knowing how they're made? What does it say about your girl if she expects a natural diamond from you, knowing how they're made? Marriage is an expression of your love, diamond rings simply don't fit into such a celebration. There are many great gifts you can give when proposing. Expensive gems are among them. Diamonds are not.

Let her pick out her own ring if you have any doubts about her taste. Many - if not most - women already have a good idea about what type of ring they want. You can arrange for the local jeweler present her with a selection within your price range (without the prices shown). If you are on a budget, you might consider getting a ring with another gemstone in the middle, but with diamonds elsewhere on the band. Under no circumstances should you buy her a "fake" diamond unless she asks you first to do so. If you lie to her, she will find out (these things are testable) and not only be insulted but wonder what else you've been hiding. --------------------------------- I was not referring to artificial diamonds when I wrote "fake", I was referring to diamond substitutes that many guys try to pass off as the real thing - my sis even got one though she didn't know till after the marriage was pretty much over. However, many women also consider artificial diamonds to be "fake" or less valuable than the real things, so you can take it either way since I put it in quotations.

I just wanted to add some things to drublic's answer. The site he linked to does seem to have to pretty good information about diamond. However, I noticed something that they did not mention in the section on cut. They don't really talk about brilliance and fire in that section. These are both aspects that have to do with the way light interacts with the diamond. Brilliance refers to the amount of light that gets reflected back out of the table of the diamond. Fire refers to the play of colors that you get out of the other pavilion facets. If you want a diamond that has the maximum amount of brilliance and fire, then you want a round cut diamond. The round cut was mathematically calculated to give the ideal amount of both of these characteristics. If you go with any of the so called "fancy" cuts than you are moving some distance away from the ideal and are, therefore, sacrificing some of the brilliance and fire. The further you get away from the round cut the more you sacrifice. Also, I would just like to second Lucas_'s comments. I have always had a problem with the De Beers cartel. (Cartel is just another word for monopoly in case you didn't know.) They are a monopoly in the worst sense of the word. They do engage in practices that keep diamond prices higher than they should be. I was really disappointed in Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union. Russia has huge stock piles of diamonds that the U.S.S.R. dug out of the Ural Mountains and could have potentially broken the De Beers monopoly. Unfortunately, they chose to get in bed with them instead. Between De Beers' business practices and the potential to get blood diamonds, I am more incline to want to buy an artificial diamond than I am a natural one. Don't go confusing artificial diamonds with simulants. Artificial diamonds are still diamonds. They are just ones that we have created. Simulants are something else entirely. Simulants are other stones that look like diamonds, but aren't. (The most popular simulant at the moment is cubic zirconium.) Besides, as a geologist, I have always thought that it would be kind of cool to be able to get my hands on the right apparatus and materials and actually make the diamond that I give to the woman I eventually marry. It would be that much more a symbol of my love for her then one that I just went to the store and bought. Unfortunately, i don't have access to the necessary equipment (nor do I expect that most of you will either) nor do I yet have some one to whom to give a diamond. Ah well.

If you do chose to go ahead and enslave children or fund some countries warmongering, a great site to buy an engagement ring to meet your budget is www.bluenile.com You can search on the 4-C's to meet your budget, quality and size requirments and find an assortment of bands. Then you can "build" the ring with the stone you select put in the band you select. I purchased a wedding set from them and a local jewellor appriased it for more than $6000 more than I bought it for. One key to buying Jewellry, never by it in the mall.....

Many women are now choosing alternative stones. You might ask - I'm glad I did!

In addition to Lucas's excellent answer regarding diamond "ethics", if this is something that concerns you or your fiancee to be, you may be pleased to know that there are companies who sell diamonds that have strong ethical policies, such as the Canadian based Igloo Diamonds (see http://www.diamonds.org/). A good diamond company will be able to tell you something about the mine the diamond came from, and will often put money back in to related ethical causes, such as landmine clearing. Like many women, I would be appalled to find out something that was supposed to be a symbol of love had been mined in an atmosphere fuelled by hatred and greed, so if you have the cash, this is a good, safe option that doesn't compromise on quality or beauty.

Buy the most expensive one; preferably at Tiffany's or another upscale diamond store. Why? Simply because you usually get what you pay for and places like Tiffany's or Neiman Marcus are more likely to have the best diamonds. Always look for clarity, cut, color and carats. The carats will tell you how much the ring, in effect, weighs. The more carats, the weightier the diamond, the more expensive it is. Clarity defines how well it sparkles. Cut is the way the actual diamond is shaped. Color is a given. You can have pink, yellow, white diamonds, etc. Now, you're inviting me to the wedding as your best man, right? Good luck!

I am all for not enslaving people, but as a woman I would be shocked/disappointed if someone gave me an artifical diamond ring UNDER the pretense that it was a natral diamond ring. If you a man and are interested in proposing with a stone that is not a natural diamond, great. Just be sure to discuss it with your fiance-to-be first. V Very few women would be disappointed to hear that their boyfriend has such a big heart for people in other countries. However, buying a stone other than a natural diamond while pretending it IS natural makes the man look cheap, and would make me question my engagement - why would I want to spend the rest of my life with a man who can't even be honest about a rock?

When buying loose diamonds, or any other diamonds, a buyer should consider the now-famous 4 Cs: cut, color, clarity and carat. These four aspects of grading a diamond allow a buyer to determine its quality. The 4 C's also determine the cost of loose diamonds - and set diamonds. However, a buyer has to determine which of these takes precedence in choosing a diamond. Cut is different from shape. Shape concerns whether the diamond is round, emerald-cut, or pear-shaped. The cut of a diamond has a great deal to do with how it looks to the naked eye - how it sparkles. Buyers should look for cuts that are rated at least "good." Color determines how much yellow tinge is present in the diamond. Some diamonds in the "H-J" range may appear nearly colorless, but much "warmer" than diamonds with less color. They are also usually less expensive. Clarity refers to flaws or "inclusions" in the diamond. These grades range from the very rare flawless to "slightly included." Carat is often thought to regard size, but in reality, it refers to weight. Of course, a heavier diamond is usually a larger one, but carat does strictly mean weight. Before purchasing a loose diamond or a diamond jewelry piece, it is important to learn these aspects of diamonds so that you can determine the exact worth of your expenditure. B2C Jewels

Ur BANK ACCOUNT!!! Don't start out a Marriage in Debt!!! If she Insists, she will ALWAYS INSIST & U will be Broke & Miserable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OBTW, LOVE IS NOT A BIG RING!!! John

I'd think about how it will sit on your finger with your future wedding ring. My fiance bought my engagement ring as a surprise and it's lovely but even when I received it, none of us considered the wedding ring. Mine's similar to this shape http://www.countryjewellery.com/images/RING_D_1.jpg which makes a straight ring not fit as snugly. As luck would happen, we found a plain, gold wedding ring (I didn't want anything fancy) that fits snugly around it. Lots of people asked me if they came as a set and the answer's no. In fact, they were bought at different jewellers, in different towns and different years!

Choose one that fits her personality. If she is the type that likes flashy jewelery that sparkles a lot then get that one. If she is more the quiet type she may not care about how big the ring is. If you know for a fact about one of those, it may help. If you still do not know, just go with one that "describes her personality", or pick one that you think she would like. I would think, no matter what, she will love whatever you pick out. I wish you the best! Sounds like one lucky girl!!! Good luck! :)

the one that catches your eye is the right one for you !!

First make sure it is a diamond ring you truly want. Diamonds are quite expensive and difficult to choose and by the way do you know if he can afford what you want? I chose an alternative as I don't like diamonds. I chose a very delicate Platinum ring, a beautiful and pure Sapphire in the center, not too big they look grotesque, surrounded by pure diamond chips. The band was the same but the chips were Sapphires and diamonds. As time went by, he would always buy an extra diamond for each year of marriage and two for each child we had, never too big. When the ring was full but not clogged, I got this beautiful necklace also in Platinum, Sapphires and diamond chips and later on the earrings. I have the full set which is beautiful and delicate. Almost 42 years have passed so I now have several sets but all in precious stones and pearls not only diamonds. It is always very nice to have him remember and add and extra stone.

PPrice and stone size.

look for what your future fiance likes, within reason. if she likes a simple ring look for simple, if she likes gaudy than get her gaudy. if she wants yellow gold or white gold, or if she wants platinum (if you can afford that). personally im a simple kind of girl and i just one or 3 stones. plain and simple. oh and it has to be platinum haha. but its up to what she likes.

Please don't listen to these other people regarding blood diamonds. Yes, you have to be careful. But, as a DCA (Diamond Council of America) Certified Diamontologist, (with honors), I can tell you that your choice should be made depending on the person receiving it; (i.e. the personality: the quirkiness, the refine-ness, how practical they are or not, etc.) Having sold for two well-known commercial jewelry stores for a total of three years, all you need to do is ask them for their copy of their store's written Statement of Conflict Free Diamonds. If a store has not done their due diligence to create this official written statement and given you a copy for yourself, then you should leave immediately. That will show that you are serious about this investment and maybe teach them a lesson on due diligence, trust, and ethics. Then, you should find one tailored best for your partner. In my experience, princess cut diamonds do not reflect light as well as round cuts. Proportion is a big deal as well, too, though. So, if you get a round cut, you have to make certain its proportions are "equal," meaning, a good value and quality diamond has a "diamond" shape. So, when you look at it from the side, you can see the that the top (table) is not extremely disproportionate to the bottom (pavilion). If so, you should move on to the next. This is important because the physics of the light and the angles won't properly "shine" through without adequate measurements. It doesn't even have to cost thousands. Many years ago, I was engaged fresh out of high school to someone I never married, and was quite happy with the 1/4 ct. VS1, H (I think that was the color...it has been a while). It didn't work out, for the record, because we were way too young. My fiancee (and second and last!!), at my mid thirties today, gave me a 1.5+ ct. VS2, I, which is stunning. Typically, stay away from yellowish diamonds. These are typically "I" and below, although I have seen a yellowish "H" before. Have the store associate take you outside the store to just outside in natural light to get the BEST lighting and most natural effect. Natural sunlight is best for diamonds. For the clarity, find one that is no less than SI, if you can afford it. Visit: A Diamond Is Forever.com (without the spaces in between) for tips on proposals, what to look for in a diamond, and many other excellent types of information. I wish you and your partner a long and happy, normal and peaceful, and respectful, faithful, and healthy MARRIAGE! Remember to remind each other that the wedding is just the event, but the marriage is the main part that needs your attention always. Even once kids are introduced to the marriage. Why? Because without a health relationship and marriage of the parents, the kids will not have the life you two counted on from the beginning of your married life. To keep a marriage/relationship happy, fulfilling, faithful, and loving: Always kiss each other throughout the day with initiation on both parts; hug one another at least 4 times a day; support each other regardless of how big your differences are on any given circumstance (unless illegal or malicious of course); take each other out on dates at least twice a month whether at home and specifically set as a true date or at a recreational event/restaurant; and respect each others' closest friends and families, while always defending each other to any and all people who wouldn't know your partner as well as you each know of the other. It's the most sacred of all relationships, next to deities if religious...one more thing: always show confidence in each of your selves, the relationship, and your future together while never insulting each other's intellect or demeaning each other whether in front of others or alone. Maintain emotional connections throughout the day whether together or apart. Texting, emails, IM'ing, etc. are for ALL age groups, so long as you both do it wisely and not let it interfere with your work-lives in an imposing manner. Stay faithful to each other knowing the pitfalls you can succomb to don't have to include a good-looking third person because emotional infidelity is just as strong a misstep in a marriage/relationship/commitment as physical infidelity. Now be smart and live your dreams together, with gusto!

Your credit card.

I think a worth visiting and supporting site (or brand?) is Igloo Diamonds (www.diamonds.ca). The site carries exclusively Canadian diamonds and forwards a portion of their mark up (not the elusive figure called "profit", the site explains) towards landmine clearing in Mozambique. Another site with plenty of links with information on the topic is www.diamonds.org

Something you like. Who are we to tell you what type of engagement ring you should choose. That is a pretty personal thing if you ask me. +3

clarity, cost per carat, lack of flaws Most important - knowing she will say yes.

be absolutely certain you see the two of you honouring eachother through sickness and health,richer or poorer and forsaking all others...you are about to embark on the most sacred of vows

A reputable dealer. There are many.