Your Ultimate Guide for Diamond Ring Shopping – 4 Things to Remember

Shopping for an engagement ring is never easy. With a myriad of ring designs available at some of the best jewelry stores in Albuquerque, it should be quite perplexing and overwhelming to discover the perfect engagement ring for your future spouse. As you are reading this, you might already be in the process of scouring hundreds of Pinterest boards to find an ideal design. Perhaps this is one of the biggest purchases you will ever make, so you want to be absolutely sure that the money is well spent.

It's not just about the cost involved, but also about impressing your partner with a striking diamond ring. This expert shopping guide from one of the leading jewelry stores in Albuquerque will help you ease your search for the same.

So, What's the Secret? The 4Cs of Diamond!

Your choice should be based on the 4Cs, which is the official grading system applicable to diamonds. What are the 4Cs, you ask?

• Cut

• Carat

• Clarity

• Color

Here’s each one of them explained in detail.

1. Cut:

Cut is the most important factor of a diamond that you should look into. It represents the sparkle of the stone. If the cut isn't perfect, the light leaks from the pavilion facets to adversely impact the sparkle and brilliance of the diamond. On the other hand, a well-cut diamond will reflect the light just right, making it sparkly and elegant.

Cut is in fact the number one factor that influences the appearance of a diamond. Here are the different gradings provided to a diamond cut.

• Excellent: The diamond is perfectly cut with the right proportions, which will enhance the fire, brilliance, and sparkle in it.

• Very Good: Diamonds are cut quite impressively. They're slightly identical to the excellent grade diamonds, but pales in comparison when it comes to quality.

• Good: Good grade diamonds do give out some sparkle, but it wouldn't be perfect. You’ll see that the sparkle is inconsistent, thus making it a bad choice for engagement rings.

• Fair: Diamonds with fair cut grade won't be a good choice for center stones. They offer less brilliance as the light passes through the bottom and side portions of the diamond. That being said, these would be good to use as smaller side stones in a ring.

• Poor: Obviously, poor cut grade is the least attractive of them all. For the same reason, you wouldn't find them being sold at reputable jewelry stores.

2. Carat:

Carat is the measurement of the weight of a diamond. One carat is equal to 0.2 grams, the same weight of a paper clip. The larger the carat, the pricier the diamond will be. A lot of people are under the impression that carrot represents the size of the diamond, but that is not true. 

According to Albuquerque diamond jewelers, no two diamonds are identical, and carat only reveals the actual weight of the stone rather than its size. Even if both the diamonds have the exact same carat weight, they will differ in size based on how they are cut. Depending on your preference and budget, choose your ideal carat weight.

3. Clarity:

Clarity refers to the number of imperfections present in a diamond. These are known as inclusions. Similar to cut, each diamond will have a specific clarity grading based on a number of aspects, such as the type, amount, location, and relief of the inclusions. The clarity gradings are as follows:

• Internally Flawless (IF) - The highest grading. Absolutely flawless, yet extremely rare.

• Very Very Small Inclusions 1 (VVS1) - Inclusions are invisible even under 10x magnification with a jeweler’s loupe.

• Very Very Small Inclusions 2 (VVS2) - Inclusions are not easily visible under 10x magnification.

• Very Small Inclusions 1 (VS1) - Inclusions are barely visible under 10x magnification. Requires a few seconds to spot them.

• Very Small Inclusions 2 (VS2) - Inclusions are nearly visible at 10x magnification.

• Small Inclusions 1 (SI1) - Inclusions are easily found at 10x magnification. Almost visible to the naked eye.

• Small Inclusions 2 (SI2) - Inclusions are clearly visible with a jeweler’s loupe. Highly likely to be visible to the naked eye.

• Inclusions 1 (I1) - Inclusions are more visible than SI2 inclusions.

• Inclusions 2 & 3 (I2, I3) - Lowest grade in clarity.

4. Color:

Next comes the color of the diamond. Diamonds are graded on a D- Z scale, with D referring to colorless diamonds and Z representing diamonds with a light-yellow hue. To know the color, turn the diamond face down and have the culet face up against a pure white surface. Colorless or “whiter” diamonds are usually preferable and the most expensive as well.

• D E F – Colorless

• G H I J – Near colorless

• K L M – Faint yellow

• N O P Q R – Very light yellow

• S T U V W X Y Z – Light yellow

The cost of the diamond can significantly vary based on the subtle differences in color and clarity. Talk to expert jewelers in Albuquerque, and let them know what you need. Based on the above factors, you should be able to find a diamond ring made just for you! 

6 Ways Wearing Amethyst Jewelry Benefits Your Health

In the world of alternative medicine, crystals are often used to heal your body and mind. One of the popular stones that is used for the said purpose is amethyst. People often recommend wearing the world’s most popular purple gemstone for its great healing properties. Besides, it’s also one of the most gorgeous and elegant stones you’d love to wear. Leading jewelry stores in Albuquerque provide a beautiful collection of chic and stylish amethyst rings that you can wear to harness the health benefits it offers to you.

About Amethyst:

The Amethyst stone belongs to the quartz mineral family. It is known for its distinct shades of purple or violet. People who love jewelry have a special admiration for amethyst not just due to its striking color, but also its durability and affordability.

6 Key Benefits of Using Amethyst:

- Relief from Stress

Amethyst involves great soothing properties that can aid in relaxing your body. It wards off negative energies, and reduces anxiety and nervousness. So, if you have a friend or family member who’d really need to get some peace and healing, purchase amethyst from jewelry stores in Albuquerque for them.

- Rewards You a Good Night’s Sleep

Several people are amazed by how amethyst is really helpful in getting a good sleep. Amethyst emits low levels of heat that allows you to calm your senses and get some shuteye. It clears your mind and helps you have pleasant dreams rather than nightmares.

- Improves Antioxidant Activity

Antioxidants are responsible to keep your body protected from ailments. Studies reveal that amethyst has the ability to kick out toxins from your body, while also boosting the performance of antioxidants. According to the Albuquerque diamond jewelers, the gemstone can also produce more antioxidants to enhance your bodily health.

- Aids in Blood Circulation

Did you know that amethyst helps with blood circulation too? This is made possible by improving the flexibility of blood vessels. By doing so, blood delivers oxygen and essential nutrients to different parts of your body faster than usual.

- Cell Growth:

Amethyst emits infrared rays that instigate cell regeneration and growth. Infrared radiation will increase the energy levels in the body, which further leads to the production of healthy cells and body growth.

- Better Hormonal Balance:

Hormonal imbalances in the body causes different health problems including libido loss, weight gain, irregular menstrual cycles, migraines, and more. Amethyst optimizes the performance of the endocrine system, which is responsible for the production of necessary hormones. Better endocrine performance, in turn, boosts the function of the pituitary glands, adrenal glands, thyroid, pancreases, and more.

Treat yourself or your loved ones with a beautiful amethyst ring purchased from the best jewelers in Albuquerque. Flaunt this stylish fashionable accessory, while also improving your physical and emotional wellbeing.

Is it Time to Pop the Question? Propose With a Custom Diamond Ring

Figuring out the right time to pop the question isn’t always easy. As the old saying goes “When you know, you know,” there is no right or wrong to time confess your love. There are several ways to pop the question. But, one of the most popular and sentimental ways to do it is to confess your love with a customized diamond engagement ring. However, it is essential to buy the right ring to make things a bit easier.

That said, wouldn’t that be great when you get the opportunity to design your own engagement ring? You can get a wide range of exciting ring purchase options in Jewelry stores in Albuquerque when you have control over every aspect of your ring want. All you need to be is expressive, creative, and have an unmatched representation of your relationship with your significant other. When you don’t know what to find, maybe, you should get your ring customized according to your requirements and budget.

Here are a few reasons why you need to opt for customized ring:-

Ease of Selection

There are many options to buy a ring. However, with a range of choices, finding the perfect ring can take time. It is not uncommon to see people hopping from one store to another in search of something unique, stylish, and more importantly, budget-friendly. This is not the case with customized rings. All you need to do is choose a ring design framework that you want within the budget. Getting your ring customized saves energy and time so that you can focus on other things for the big day.

Get Creative

Customizing the ring allows your personality and story as a couple to shine through the diamond ring. The jewelers in Albuquerque will consider your needs, story, and give more ideas on how to design the ring. In fact, Albuquerque diamond jewelers will bring some of the aspects of your story into the ring, creating something unique, reflecting the relationship with your soul mate.

You can even add elements to your ring that represent who you are as a couple such as pick a gemstone that represents you both, add an engraving of the quote or a symbol that means something about you both, and choose a unique design to create that wow factor. As you see, there are many ways to bring the ring alive, which represents your love.

Get the Most of Your Budget

Budget is a crucial part of buying an engagement ring. However, it is essential to set a budget and stick to it. When you are shopping for ready-made rings, you’ll have limited rings that fit within your budget. But, this is not the case with bespoke rings. When it comes to custom ring, you are able to decide what aspects you want to spend more money on and what you’d like to save on. This, in turn, allows getting the most of your budget while also creating something unique that represents your love.