When buying bridal rings, it's customary to first buy the diamond engagement ring then purchase the wedding bands with your fiancé. On an average, wedding bands are bought three months before the wedding day and are fashioned both from the same metal. An engagement ring can be bought and fitted to your fiancee's finger after purchase. Shapiro Diamonds offers overnight ring sizing at no extra charge to our customers. Round diamonds are the most popular shape worn by brides-to-be. The diamond in an engagement ring usually accounts for 75-90% of the overall cost.
			The five most common settings for precious gems are: prong, bezel, channel, pavé, and invisible. Diamonds are graded by four characteristics: Carat, Cut, Clarity, and Color. Like diamonds, other gemstones are also evaluated by carat, cut, clarity, and color. Gemstones are priced and sold by weight, calculated in carats, which are 1/5 of a gram. When buying a diamond be sure the color and clarity are the same quality as the side stones. Round brilliant diamonds usually contain 58 facets. Look for diamonds that have no dark areas but an even brilliance throughout. If a gemstone has been treated to enhance color or cover flaws, it should cost less than a "natural" stone. The Moh's Scale is used to measure a gemstone's hardness. A diamond is 10. Sapphires and rubies are 9. Topaz is 8. Choose diamonds in the SI range rather than flawless to save money. The SI flaws (inclusions) are not visible to the naked eye. Choose a bezel setting for your diamond to make it appear larger. Consider the size and shape of a lady's hand when buying her a ring. All rings should be stamped with a Hallmark (PT, 18K, etc.) indicating the purity of the metal used. Examine where the ring has been soldered/welded. Make sure the seams are smooth. Continue Buying Tips...

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