10 Things to Think About to Plan the Perfect Proposal

When we think about a proposal, there’s a clear image in our heads of what this is going to look like: it probably involves a guy on his knee, holding a ring, with a combined look of happiness and shock on a girl’s face. The words “will you marry me!?” and “Yes!” will also almost definitely be said.

However, there are many things involved that go into getting a proposal right. There are few occasions in your lifelong relationship that are as significant as this event, so you’ll want to make sure that you’ve dotted all your i’s and crossed all your t’s in getting everything absolutely right.

Fortunately, with a little forethought and planning, you’re able to do exactly that. Below are ten things to think about for planning the perfect proposal…

Diamond rings are very often sold with certificates, but may people remain not fully aware of what this magical piece of paper represents, nor are they clear on the reliability of the certificate.

With a little guidance, you too can learn what the diamond certificate relates to, and how to ensure that it becomes more than just a piece of paper to you.

Certificates for diamonds are often referred to as diamond grading reports. For example, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) produce such a report:

Certification is the result of the process by which diamonds are assessed by gemmologists.

They are produced by accredited and reputed institutes such as the GIA, HRD or EGL.

Different diamond certificates offer different information. However, in almost all cases, a diamond certificate will include detailed measurements of the diamond’s dimensions, an assessment of the quality and symmetry of polish, and an analysis of the diamond’s quality. This results in standardized grades across the 4C’s: cut, color, clarity and carat weight.

A common question that people ask when purchasing a diamond is how they can be assured of value for their purchase? The diamond certificate should assist in answering this question.

Diamond certificates outline a diamond stone’s specifications, configuration, merits and demerits. A diamond grading report will grade a diamond across the 4C’s and thirteen other factors in order to determine its quality (and therefore value). The GIA Diamond Grading Report covers:

There are several organizations involved in certification. In all likelihood, the names you’ll come across most often are the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) or the AGS (American Gem Society).

These are independent organizations who employ trained gemmologists for the specific purpose of performing accurate diamond certification.

They are not affiliated with any vendor, so there’s no need to worry about the certificate being biased. If you come across certificates provided by other organisations, it’s a good idea to look into the background of the organization in question and ensure that they are independent and impartial.

The GIA are considered the ‘gold standard’ of diamond certification, and have become the trusted go-to source within the industry. If looking for maximum peace of mind, look for the following GIA badge on any diamond you purchase:

There are many technical elements to finding the perfect diamond engagement ring. When thinking about the 4C’s, you have the cut, colour, clarity and carat weight to think about. But chances are, even before you turned your attention to all of these vital diamond components, you probably had an idea of what your diamond ring was going to look like, and this would likely have been principally influenced by the diamond’s shape.

A diamond’s shape describes the diamond’s basic outline when viewed face-up. For example, if it is round, cushion or pear. This is different from the diamond’s cut, which is something completely different, as the cut refers specifically to how the diamond’s facets are arranged.

Below we’ll run through your various shape options and key things to keep in mind when deciding on what shape is right for you…

Round shaped diamonds are the most popular shape and are frequently used for Solitaire-set engagement rings. Almost all round diamonds are brilliant cut since the angles created with a brilliant cut helps to enhance its fire and brilliance.

Princess shaped diamonds are a very bright and acute style, with uncut corners. Generally, it is a square or rectangular cut. The brilliant style is because of the vertical directions in the crown and facets in the pavilion instead of horizontal cuts. This diamond shape is one of the most wanted for engagement rings, and most often, princess cut engagement rings are accented with other smaller stones with the diamond at its centre.

The cushion cut diamond is popular with those who desire an antique style engagement ring. They are nonetheless, known for being both classic and contemporary. Cushion cut retains more colour face up than a brilliant cut, which makes them a good choice for coloured diamonds. Cushion cut diamonds have curved sides and rounded corners.

The emerald cut diamond provides for deep clarity and a large surface table. They are a popular choice for those wanting a larger stone without a high price point, and can give the appearance that they are bigger than they may actually be. Despite being rarer than round or princess shaped diamonds, they are often slightly cheaper, making them an attractive option.

Pear shaped diamonds fuse the best of both the marquise and round shapes. Similarly to marquise shaped diamonds, symmetry is key. Pear shaped diamonds resemble a teardrop, and when worn with the pointy end pointing out towards the tips of the finger, create a slimming effect on the hand.

When we think of an engagement ring, we often think that what differentiates one ring from another is largely dependent on the diamond that sits atop of that ring.

And whilst the diamond is the centerpiece that makes the ring special in the first place, the ring setting it sits upon is absolutely critical too.

Engagement ring settings vary greatly and reflect the different personalities of different owners.

The setting is also responsible for accentuating or downplaying certain attributes of the centerpiece diamond and creating visual effects that have the potential to bring out the best (and worse) of the gemstone.

Different people also live different lifestyles, making some settings more or less appropriate than others. This throws a ‘practical considerations’ element into the mix.

And finally, different settings cater to different budget objectives, which may also influence a shortlist of settings that may be more or less appropriate for you too.

Below we overview five of the most popular ring settings you may wish to consider and outline the reasons that many people gravitate towards each…

Getting engaged signifies taking the next step in your relationship. It’s an important milestone, and one you want to make sure you get right.

It is most-commonly symbolised by asking for your girlfriend’s hand in marriage by giving her an engagement ring. And with so many different options, how do you know how much you should be spending on this ever-important purchase?

Thinking about how much to spend on an engagement ring is one of the most common questions at the forefront of the mind of someone that is about to propose.

The secret to knowing how much to spend lies in striking the optimal balance between your financial reality and the expectations of your partner.

Everyone’s situation will be different and the balance of these two things will naturally be different too.

Nonetheless, there are still a few methodologies that are used for approaching this major purchase decision…

You may have heard of the two months’ salary rule. No big surprises as to how this works: you are supposed to spend two months of your income on the engagement ring.

For example, if you make $5,000 per month, then you’d spend $10,000 on the ring.

It is nowadays commonly accepted that this is very much an outdated rule that was initiated by the diamond company De Beers and driven by marketers.

People’s earning potential increases at later stages of their careers, and depending on when you get engaged, can result in both over or under-spending on the ring.

There is also a big difference between net versus gross earnings, which can make a massive difference on how much you spend using this rule.

And if you have a big university debt, then spending a large sum on a ring with that debt hanging over your head might feel like an (already tight) noose that’s getting even tighter around your neck.

Alternatively, there’s the social average rule. At first glance, this makes a lot of sense, since you can take the average spend by the “common man” as a basis for comparison.

This may represent a useful benchmark and more realistic framework than the two-months salary rule, but still doesn’t take into account your personal financial situation (which may still result in meeting the social average hard or impossible).

It is important to balance your financial situation with your partner’s expectations. It is important to remember that buying an engagement ring is different to buying that pair of running shoes you bought online the other day.

An engagement ring is a symbol of your relationship and the love you have for your girlfriend.

As you look towards the future, the proposal marks the beginning of the rest of your lives together and the ring is symbolic of that milestone.

It is likely that your partner will have thought about this special day at some point throughout your relationship.

As many women have a natural fascination with jewellery, she may likely have given some thought to her ideal engagement ring, which means she probably has an idea about some basic things like its style and the diamond shape, size and colour.

Your financial reality means that you should not spend beyond your means, but spending adequately on an engagement ring can demonstrate that you see the life ahead with your special lady as one of your highest priorities.

Regardless of budget, there are always things you’re able to do to maximise your bang-for-buck.

Certain diamond attributes are visible to the naked eye, whereas others are not.

Naturally, the size and carat weight of the diamond will show obvious differences if bigger or smaller. Similarly, the cut will show greater or lesser sparkle depending on the cut-grade that you choose.

However selecting diamonds with inclusions that are observable only under a microscope might represent a good compromise if need be. Many diamond colours are also very difficult to distinguish by the naked eye, and small differences can often represent big savings.

Make sure that you also get multiple quotes as different jewellers have different stock they are often trying to clear with different levels of urgency. If time is on your side and you’ve done your homework with different jewellers, there’s a high likelihood you’ll come across a diamond priced below what it may likely be selling for with other jewellers.

Similarly, try to avoid typical store-front jewellers as their retail overheads often add a layer of additional expense that inevitably gets passed on to you as the customer.

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A Beginner’s Guide to Understanding the 4C’s

The 4C’s are the globally-accepted standard for describing the quality of diamonds.

They refer to a diamond’s…

Being familiar with the 4C’s enables you to talk about a diamond’s quality in a ‘universal language’, and helps you understand exactly what type of diamond you are about to purchase.

Many people confuse the colour grade of a diamond with the category of diamonds that are referred to as fancy coloured diamonds—diamonds that are naturally-coloured.

This is not what we are referring to when we talk about ‘Colour’ in the 4C’s.

When talking about Colour in the context of the 4C’s, we are actually talking about a diamond’s lack of colour. The less colour, the better the diamond.

Colourless

Near Colourless

Faint Colour

Light Colour

Very Light Colour

Diamond Clarity refers to the absence of blemishes and inclusions.

Flaws on the surface of the diamond are referred to as blemishes. Flaws within the stone are referred to as inclusions.

Since diamonds are natural creations—created over millions of years—inclusions and blemishes are inevitable. Nonetheless, diamonds with the fewest inclusions or blemishes receive the highest clarity grade, and have a higher value.

There are different types of diamond inclusions and blemishes. Examples of diamond inclusions are clouds, feathers, knots and internal graining. Examples of diamond blemishes are polish lines, scratches, nicks and breaks.

Flawless

Internally Flawless

Very, Very Slightly Included

Very Slightly Included

Slightly Included

Usually, a diamond’s beauty is not affected by any inclusions since most inclusions can only be seen under a magnifying glass. This makes diamond clarity less important than a diamond’s colour or cut.

For this reason, Slightly Included (SI) and Very Slightly Included (VS) graded diamonds often provide the greatest bang-for-buck since any inclusions are almost impossible to be seen without magnification.

Clarity becomes more important for diamonds with a larger carat weight, and with some fancy-shaped diamonds that accentuate flaws.

It’s a common misconception that when talking about a diamond’s cut, we’re talking about its shape (e.g. round, heart, pear, etc).

Cut actually refers to how well a diamond’s facets interact with light to create sparkle and brilliance.

Of all the 4C’s, a diamond’s cut is the most complex and has the greatest impact on its…

1. Brightness:The amount of internal and external white light that is reflected from the diamond
2. Fire:The scattering of white light into a broad range of colours
3. Scintillation:The amount of sparkle a diamond produces and pattern of light vs. dark areas resulting from reflections within the diamond

A well-cut diamond also reflects the design and craftsmanship that went into producing the diamond. It includes features such as the diamond’s weight-to-diameter ratio, girdle thickness, symmetry of its facet arrangement and quality of polish on all its facets.

In simple terms, the cut grade of a diamond refers to its light performance, meaning the degree to which the diamond retains and reflects the light that enters it. A diamond with a good cut will be highly reflective and exhibit the best possible amount of sparkle. Conversely, diamonds that ‘leak’ light through the bottom or side are usually cut too shallow or deep, and will thus have a less favorable cut grade.

Hence, it is the cut of a diamond that affects the way that light travels through the gem, how much is reflected in the eye, and how much leaks out the back.

A well-cut diamond gives off more bright sparkle and shine, and is therefore more highly valued. A diamond that is cut poorly or too thin will have a lot of light leakage, eliminating its potential for sparkle, and diminishing its value. It takes great skill and craftsmanship to transform a diamond in the rough into a dazzling gem.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) have created an objective rating system that is widely-accepted as the gold-standard for evaluating a diamond’s cut.

GIA breaks a diamond’s cut down into five categories, and grades a diamond based on the amount of light it is able to refract back out of its table:

Excellent

Very Good

Good

Fair

Poor

The term carat is also often misunderstood. It refers to how much a gemstone weighs—not its size. Thus, diamond carat refers to the weight of the diamond stone (or its apparent size).

Carat is the standard measurement metric for gemstones and precious stones, particularly diamonds. A metric ‘carat’ is defined as 200 milligrams,  with each milligram sub-divided into 100 ‘points’. This allows precise measurements to the 100th decimal place.

In industry lingo, jewellers and gemmologists may refer to gemstones by the points of their carat weight. For instance a 0.5 carat gemstone may be referred to by a jeweller as a “fifty pointer”.

All other diamond attributes being equal, a diamond’s price will increase with increased carat weight since larger diamonds are harder to come by. Make sure to pay particular attention to the diamond’s cut, since a high carat weight diamond that is poorly cut may look smaller in comparison to a smaller carat weight diamond that is better-cut.

Some diamonds are considered “magic sizes”. Half carat, three-quarter carat and single carat diamonds are such examples. To maximise value of your diamond purchase, consider purchasing a diamond ever-slightly below these magic sizes. The outcome will be visually negligible to the naked eye, but potentially save you big on its cost.

Some settings can also make a diamond appear bigger than they actually are. Halo settings, for example, create a ring of small diamonds around the centrepiece diamond, giving the appearance that the main diamond is larger than it actually is.

Finally, fancy-shaped diamonds may appear larger than their actual carat weight. Shapes like pear diamonds may be worth considering when trying to get the greatest bang-for-your-buck when it comes to carat weight.

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