Engagement rings & wedding bands: Choosing a diamond
Cut drives sparkle; color and clarity matter less than most people think; carat is weight, not size. An independent grading report protects you on any significant stone.
The key points
- Prioritize cut for brightness
- Near-colorless looks white in most settings
- Eye-clean clarity is enough
- Ask for an independent grading report
Lab-grown vs natural
Both are real diamonds. Lab-grown usually costs much less for the same look; natural carries rarity and tradition.
Diamond shapes
Round, oval, cushion, emerald, pear, marquise, princess and radiant. Elongated shapes look larger for their weight.
