Mentions of Diamond Rings in Fiction Books

  

I have long maintained that diamonds play a central role in society and are thoroughly entrenched in popular culture. Those who think that diamonds have had their day have nothing else to replace them with. To the writer of fiction the diamond can signify many things. Coercion, bribery, generosity, gullibility, romance, kindness, crime, furtiveness, shock, confusion, extravagance, tackiness, style, lack of style, so many things can be implied in the same sentence where a diamond ring is featured. Just take a look at these sentences and see what I mean. There are some real interesting ones here.
Before I jump into the compilation (that took me all morning to put together and format below) just let me put in a plug for my article on how to choose a diamond at Blue Nile which took me a heck of a lot longer to put together.

Anyway, here is what I had time to put together today as far as mentions of  diamond rings in fiction:

 

The Tattooist of Auschwitz

Bonnier Publishing Australia
Heather Morris

..He keeps a loose ruby and a diamond ring in his bag....
..‘A diamond ring. Or would you prefer an emerald?’ ‘Oh, I’ll have the diamond, thank you,’ she says, playing along....
..The kapo’s price is a diamond ring. She’s heard the rumours of Lale’s treasure chest. The deal is struck....

Crazy Rich Asians

Doubleday
Kevin Kwan
..She had just bought a three hundred and fifty thousand dollar diamond ring she didn’t much care for, a twenty-eight thousand dollar bracelet she quite...


   

The Time of Contempt

Orbit
Andrzej Sapkowski
..One particularly bold newspaper had compared it to a starving pauper wearing a diamond ring. It was an apt comparison in these lean times....



   

To All the Boys I've Loved Before

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Han Jenny
..And there was this one veteran who lost his leg—he sent her a diamond ring!” Chris looks interested all of a sudden. “Did she keep it?”...


   

China Rich Girlfriend

Doubleday
Kevin Kwan
..Lorena zeroed in on her diamond ring....


   

After You

Moyes Jojo
..I couldn’t help noticing the enormous diamond ring cutting into her wedding finger, and wondered with a vague pang what the last months had been like for...


   

In Cold Blood

Vintage
Truman Capote
..Clutter was wearing—a gold wedding band and a diamond ring? Yet Nye was not convinced: “The whole setup has that robbery smell....


   

The Silkworm

Rowling J K, Galbraith Robert
..Little though the unknown accountant might believe it, Strike was grateful for Matthew’s mere existence, and for the sapphire and diamond ring that shone...


   

The Chance

Kingsbury Karen
..“That diamond ring you won me from the machine at Pete’s Pizza. I kept that.” “You did?” He looked as happy as he was surprised. “I didn’t know.”...


   

Hercule Poirot: The Complete Short Stories

Christie Agatha
..And if the lady likes her new diamond ring!” “And now to resume your so dramatic narrative,” said Poirot....

   

the Spanish Groom

Lynne Graham
..With an unerring eye, he reached down to select the most opulent diamond ring. 'We'll have this one.'...


   

Property of a Noblewoman

Steel Danielle
..He had listed them simply as diamond ring, bracelet, necklace, pin, without further detail, which would have been beyond his competence on the subject,...
..And in the third box was an enormous diamond ring, again with a rectangular emerald-cut stone, like the emerald....
..ring, the ruby one, or one of her brooches....
..She told her about the jewelry and trying on the enormous diamond ring. “Wow! It’s hard to imagine romances and people like that....
..He placed it back in its box with great care, and opened the box with the diamond ring next, which was even larger, and this time he smiled. “Wow!”...

   

Ladies Who Punch

Thomas Dunne Books
Ramin Setoodeh
..The camera zoomed in on Star’s glistening diamond ring, as she gushed about how hard it was to patiently wait for it....

   

Child of All Nations

Penguin Books
Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Max Lane
..There was something of his in this wardrobe: a gold and diamond ring....
..The diamond ring jumped in my pocket, piercing my thighs and demanding to be taken to Ezekiel’s shop. So Suurhof had stolen it....
..The diamond ring started jabbing and stabbing me in the thigh again....

   

Complete Works of Sheridan Le Fanu

Le Fanu Joseph Sheridan
..When I last night sate with you I observed about you a token long since familiar to me as the light — you wear it on your finger — it is a diamond ring...


   

The Morning After

Reid Michelle
..fingers where two new rings glinted in the light—one a hand-crafted, intricately woven band of the richest, purest gold, the other a beautiful sapphire and diamond...
..ring designed to match the necklace at her throat....


   

The Carrow Haunt

Black Owl Books
Darcy Coates
..But he had to go and propose with a freakin’ huge diamond ring in front of everyone. And he made such a big fuss when I laughed at him.”...


   

Sinners

Collins Jackie
..On her finger she wore a huge cluster diamond ring, a present from Charlie....
..She flashed her diamond ring and leant forward to exchange kisses, whispering in her normal voice, ‘Thank Christ you’re here....


   

Untamed

Palmer Diana
..He slid an emerald-and-diamond ring onto the third finger of her left hand. He kissed it. “That will have to do for an engagement ring....

   

Winter Street

Hilderbrand Elin
..He had walked right into the jewelry store and told Phoebe Showalter he needed a diamond ring....

Once Upon a Tower

James Eloisa
..“He has not,” Layla said, choosing another grape with all the seriousness of someone selecting a diamond ring....


   

At No Man's Command

Milburne Melanie
..‘Do I get a big, flashy diamond ring with that?’...


   

A Coffin for Dimitrios

Vintage Crime/Black Lizard
Eric Ambler
..The fat man spread out large, soft hands on one of which twinkled a rather grubby diamond ring. 'Iama citizen of the world,' he said....


   

Batman Begins

O'Neil Dennis
..He never learned the identity of his benefactor, but he was met outside the jail by a small Asian man wearing a Brooks Brothers suit and a diamond ring...


   

Unveiled

Malpas Jodi Ellen
..“I have a request,” he murmurs, before reaching across to claim my right hand, which is currently spinning my new diamond ring repeatedly on my finger....
..he asks, tracing over my diamond ring. Every defense mechanism I have flies up. “Just a ring.” Oh, this should be fun....


   

The Girl on Paper

Musso Guillaume
..Or the price tag on that diamond ring you gave to Aurore and that she never even returned to you?’ How dare he? ‘What are you talking about?...

   

Private Vegas

Patterson James, Paetro Maxine
..There was a gigantic diamond ring on her ring finger, and there was a kitchen knife six or seven inches away from her chest....


   

The Shadows

Ward J R
..And then there were the tangible representations of his exalted station: the black diamond ring on the middle finger of his dagger hand, and the dense...

The Green Mill Murder

Greenwood Kerry
..‘St Louis woman, love her diamond ring,’ sang Nerine, huskily but with great force. ‘Drag that man around by her apron string.’...


   

Silent House

Pamuk Orhan
..The time after that I had removed the diamond ring from the box....
..A year later when the jeweler came in summer and carried off my rose diamond ring and rose earrings, without telling Selâhattin I gave my pink pearls to...


   

The Sicilian's Surprise Wife

Pammi Tara
..She barely managed a gasp as the diamond ring slid in smooth and cold against her skin. Her heart slammed against her rib cage....


   

Queen of Hearts

Bowen Rhys
..Waldeck has reported a diamond ring missing. She knows it was in her jewelry case as she took it off after the ball last night....
..“Presumably this woman who had the diamond ring stolen has a maid and a locked cabin,” Tubby Halliday said. “I do hope they catch the blighter.”...


   

Dirty Red

Fisher Tarryn
..I deserved to be with him, wearing my two-carat, princess cut diamond ring. I got rid of her. For a while....


   

The Unwanted Wedding

Cartland Barbara
..Putting it down on the piano in front of her, he opened it and as he did so Honora saw that the box contained a diamond ring, which was certainly very...


   

Holy Frigging Matrimony

Chase Emma
..Then they put all of his belonging in a big plastic bag—including the two hundred thousand dollar diamond ring he’d purchased for the occasion....


   

The Heat of Passion

Graham Lynne
..‘I think that’s more the look we’re aiming for... and this—’ He lifted her hand and tugged off the diamond ring....

Watch Your Back

Rose Karen
..Karen found a diamond ring in a sewer while working for the Washington DC sanitation commission, one of the many part-time jobs she held to put herself...

   

A Bride Worth Millions

Shaw Chantelle
..‘The jewellers who sold you my diamond ring have a matching necklace on display in the window.’...


   

The Emperor's Children

Messud Claire
..He knew that she would try to make the numbers work, would frown over the papers and talk about second mortgages and selling her mother’s diamond ring...


   

Winter Storms

Hilderbrand Elin
..Diamond ring. “I want you to be my wife,” he says. “Will you marry me?” Ava blinks....


   

Rebel Queen

Moran Michelle
..Aside from a simple pearl necklace and a small diamond ring, she wore no other jewels....



   

Not Even for Love

Brown Sandra
..He looked at the diamond ring. In a voice as hard and cold as the jewel he said, “You see, Jordan....


   

The Tower of Swallows

Sapkowski Andrzej
..As usual, she was draped with jewellery – she even had a small diamond ring in her nostrils....

Barbarian Alien (Divided; Broken; Asunder; Reborn; Claimed; Forever)

Dixon Ruby
..But Georgie's watching Vektal like he's about to give her a diamond ring or some shit....



   

The Fall

McGowan Claire
..Alone with the tick of the clock, she slowly turned the diamond ring on her finger. This wasn’t right. This wasn’t how it was meant to be....


   

Greek's Last Redemption

Crews Caitlin
..Theo took the sapphire-and-diamond ring she wore—that he’d slid there himself, high on a Santorini cliffside as the wind toyed with her hair and the bright...


   

The Sex Slave's Final Punishment

Hunt Aphrodite
..Inside is a huge diamond ring. Tears come to my eyes as I look up at Max. He smiles and nods. “Take it, Gina. Please. I’m asking you to marry me.”...


   

Slaughterhouse-Five

Vonnegut Kurt
..He knew he was going crazy when he heard himself proposing marriage to her, when he begged her to take the diamond ring and be his companion for life....


   

Thrill Me

Mallery Susan
..Every now and then, she glanced at the diamond ring sparkling on her left ring finger....


   

Best Laid Plans

Brennan Allison
..The only jewelry she wore was a gold wedding band and a small diamond ring. “Thank you for coming in so quickly,” Barry said....


   

India’s Broken Tryst

HarperCollins
Tavleen Singh
..One diamond ring on her finger was worth twice as much as my meagre collection of beach house jewellery, so even the jeweller seemed to realize there was...
..Whenever my father showed us the yellow diamond ring that was believed to have been taken from the finger of one of the princes, this shameful incident...



   

Shadow Princess

Atria Books
Indu Sundaresan
..Jahanara had left on her mother a pair of diamond studs, the diamond ring that pierced her nose, twelve bangles with diamonds on each of her wrists, refusing...



   

The Bitch

Collins Jackie
..She sorted out her stacks and stacks of chips with fat hands, and Nico was once again mesmerized by the size of her diamond ring. He stood up....
..Nico watched her giant diamond ring catch the lights and sparkle invitingly. It had to be worth enough to get him out of trouble....
..I have borrowed your diamond ring -but the loan is temporary and you shall be repaid in full......
..Once inside Hal produced the diamond ring and flung it down on the bed. 'Glass -fuckin' glass!' He spat in disgust....


   

A Whisper of Disgrace

Kendrick Sharon
..Rosa stared down at the sparkle of her brand-new ruby-and-diamond ring, which had been hastily despatched to her hotel by motorcycle courier late last...

Guide To Buying Oval Cut Diamonds

Oval cut diamonds have been quite popular for use in engagement rings in recent times. Oval diamonds can look great and many people like the shape of the oval cut diamond as the rounded corners give it a more gentle attitude when compared to some of the other shapes that compete on price-per-carat.

Oval cut diamonds have enjoyed popularity since the current form of the shape was developed in the late 50's and early 60's. The shape has the same number of facets as does the round brilliant. It also shares some similarity with the pear shape diamond, as they both produce a bow-tie effect. Oval cuts are classified as a modified round brilliant with the 58 facets being arranged similarly to round brilliants.

My wife likes the oval cut diamond shape as she says that it tends to make her fingers look more slender. The softness from the rounded ends is also one of the features she likes. Who am I to say otherwise?

While there seems to be a lot going for this shape it turns out to be surprisingly difficult to choose an oval cut diamond that has high light performance.



Here are some suggestions that can help you find a great stone when you are in the market for an oval cut diamond.

    Length To Width Ratio
    Symmetry and Polish
    Understand the Bow-tie Effect
    What About Cut Grade?
    Color Guide
    Choosing the Clarity Grade
    Choosing a Setting
   

Length To Width Ratio

Once you begin searching for oval cut diamonds you will immediately notice that there are a number of different length to width ratios among these stones. Some oval cuts look slender and narrow, others look stout and fat. This means that there is plenty of room for personal preferences.

For the most part you will find that the majority of oval cut diamonds are somewhere between 1:1.4 and  1:1.5. An oval cut diamonds that is lower than that, say around 1:1.3 and it's going to look quite stout. On the other end the 1:1.5 ratios and over are considered narrow. These work well for earrings and pendants. The 1:1.4 to 1:1.5 ratio oval cut is the common ratio chosen as a center stone for engagement rings. If the ring has side stones then a ratio below 1:1.4 can also work.

Symmetry and Polish

You will no doubt have heard or read by now that the cut grade of a diamond is very important. The problem is that as of yet most grading labs do not issue a cut grade for oval cut diamonds. This makes is a bit challenging to find a well cut stone based on this aspect alone. The AGS does include a cut grade on their Diamond Quality Report. However not every jeweler has AGS graded oval cut diamonds. The most straightforward way to check for a well cut diamond is to find one whose grading report marks it as having excellent symmetry.

A grading report will show the quality, or grade, of an oval diamond's polish. A diamond's polish is very important no matter the cut (shape). This is why people place such importance on finding triple excellent diamonds: excellent cut, excellent symmetry, and excellent polish. It's the easiest and most straightforward way to find a great diamond. Even if this doesn't work for oval cut diamonds as you can't find a triple excellent oval cut at least you can find a double excellent oval diamond.

Understanding The Bow-Tie Effect

Due to the way the molecules of a diamond are arranged, diamond acts as both a mirror and a window. When part of a diamond returns all the light that enters it from a certain angle that area can look completely black. This is part of the magic of diamonds. They are very generous, giving back what almost seems like more light than they are given. In a round brilliant this can present a very attractive contrasting effect. In oval cut diamonds this presents as a dark band in the middle.

There is practically no oval cut diamond that does not have some sort of dark band in the middle. In most oval cut stones it presents as a bow tie. It's called the bow tie effect. The bow tie effect is usually preferred  having a conspicuously large dark band. Some stones' bow tie effect is minimal. However whether or not an oval cut diamond has an ideal bow tie should be balanced with its overall brilliance and fire.

Remember that just because the light is not being returned to your eye in that central area of the stone does not mean it is not being returned at all. What you don't  want is a stone that is leaking light through its sides and pavilion.

What About Cut Grade?

The shape of an oval cut diamond does not permit it to return light in a way that is comparable to a round brilliant. This is one of the reasons oval cut diamonds are 25-27% cheaper than round brilliants. AGS graded oval cut diamonds usually max out at 1 where the highest cut grade is 0. I am happy for someone to prove me wrong, but I haven't come across any AGS Excellent Cut Grade (0) oval diamonds. So don't feel like you are chasing a ghost if you don't find any AGS Excellent Cut Grade (0) lab diamonds. Or maybe do. There is no oval cut that can compete with ideal cut round brilliants.


GIA is the lab of choice for a majority of diamond jewelers. This is due to the reliability and consistency of the reports they issue. GIA does not issut a cut grade for fancy cut diamonds, including ovals. They do however include some of the important measurements which experienced diamond handlers can use to identify a well cut diamond.

Here are my general cut parameters for the best oval cut diamonds:



    Table: 51% to 64%
    Depth: 58% to 66%
    Girdle: Very thin to slightly thick
    Culet: None

 These are not hard and fast rules. Some diamond experts have slightly different recommendations.
An oval diamond can be brilliant, well-proportioned and beautiful in appearance but if you don't get a look at the diamond you can't be sure. Check out my list of places to buy oval cut diamonds online for some ideas on how to get a look at the diamond before buying.

Color Grade

A fascinating phenomenon we find in diamonds is that when they return light efficiently the color of the diamond becomes less apparent. Oval cut diamonds are the most efficient around the center area which has a similar to round brilliants. The color is usually harder to detect in the center area due to this effect. This means of course that a lower color grade, ie darker, oval diamonds are going to show distinct color phasing between the efficient area and the less efficient areas. That's not going to be an issue if the diamond is a D-E-F. Once you get past G the color starts showing more. G-H-I-J round brilliants don't show much color if they are ideal cut. Ovals from the H-I-J and lower color grades however can never look colorless no matter how good the cut because the geometry of oval diamonds will not permit it.

The Best Clarity For Oval Cut Diamonds

All brilliant cut diamonds are dazzling enough to make inclusions difficult to see.

The sweetspot is VS2, just as with round brilliants, cushion cuts and princess cuts. SI1 and SI2 can sometimes yield good results too and it can be worth looking through these clarity grades for something that looks relatively eye-clean.

Choosing a Setting

Because the oval shape does not have any pointed edges, it is not as vulnerable as cuts that have pointed edges, like marquise or pear cuts. The classic setting for any diamond is the solitaire setting.  For the best look, choose a prong setting as this allows for the maximum amount of light reflection and visibility of the diamond.

Depending on the size of the stone, you can choose a 4 prong, 6 prong or 8 prong. Of course, the higher the number of prongs, the greater the security and the more accentuated the shape, but the lower the visibility of the diamond.

Another excellent setting for oval diamonds is the halo setting. This adds extra sparkle and maximizes the diamond’s look. A halo setting also tends to accentuate the elongated shape of the diamond and sets it apart from other diamond cuts.

Halo settings are popular for oval cut diamonds, as are three stone settings. 

There are some beautiful vintage style designs around which work well too.

Some other great choices are three stone setting, side stone and pave. If you want something different for your oval diamond ring a tension setting might do the trick.

Are these 2ct+ diamonds eye clean and good value?

Q: Are these 2ct+ diamonds eye clean and good value?

 I think I have narrowed my search down to the below two:

2.06 H SI2

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/2.06-carat-h-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4481584

2.08 H SI1

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/2.08-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4344990

Would both of those appear eye clean? How about the twinning wisps - is that something to worry about? They seem to be white and fairly small, even though they go through the table.

In terms of setting, would putting this in platinum cause any issue?

thanks!!

A:Yes, they're eye clean IMO.

Twinning wisps only become a major concern if they encompass more than a few % points of the diamond. As long as they aren't too close to the girdle it's usually fine.

Will look good in platinum.

Q: Thank you!! What do you mean "more than a few % points of the diamond" ? Do you mean specific locations (e.g. girdle) ?

A: Twinning wisps and feathers are breaks in the diamond. If they are too big they threaten the integrity of the stone. If they are near the girdle they risk getting larger if they are subjected to shock. 

 email your questions to:

The Emotional Factor Involved In Buying a Diamond Ring

Buying diamonds can be a risky venture. Why? Because diamonds differ in value based on a range of factors. A bigger diamond isn't necessarily a better choice. If you are not familiar with the various kinds of diamonds available you'll be glad someone is there to guide you through and recommend the best options for you. A good diamond salesperson will not only consider your budget but will make you aware of other factors you need to think about as well such as the style of the setting and the durability of the ring design. Without a comprehensive diamond education you can only rely on the expertise of the salesperson to help you make the best choice for you. A knowledgeable and caring salesperson will be able to guide you through the buying process. This is very valuable, and one of the reasons many people still go to local jewelers even though it is possible to get some pretty decent discounts online. Those who do buy online have to educate themselves, yet very few people will take up a study course just to prepare themselves to buy something that they will only buy once in their lives. Even when buying at a jewelers, this lack of knowledge can be , and has been, exploited by unethical merchants.  If you are unsure about what the various diamond terms mean then the chances of getting ripped off are considerably higher. Due to the wide variety of options one is faced with it is possible to get hoodwinked by unscrupulous sales people. This is why the first and foremost consideration when buying diamonds is to look for a reputable dealer. Ask friends and family if they have had any good (or bad!) experiences. This is going to help you immensely in working out where to buy your diamonds. I should add that even the most knowledgeable people, who are practically diamond experts, have been scammed by devious dealers. So getting educated about diamonds is still not a fool proof way to avoid falling victim to a con. Everyone no matter how knowledgeable they consider themselves should go to a recommended jeweler. And make sure the jeweler is close enough to where you live so you can go back to them and talk with them face to face if needed. 

If you are far away from home when you buy your diamond you'll have no recourse once you get back home as the store is far away and there will be very little you can do. 

This is why it is highly , highly, highly recommended to only go to a jeweler within your area. It's a bad idea to buy diamonds when you are far from home, whether on a honeymoon, or any kind of holiday, business trip, or visiting relatives on the other side of the country, or worse, the other side of the world.

The experience of buying a diamond is a very emotional experience. Yes, an emotional experience. You may be thinking, What? What does that mean? Is my girlfriend going to start crying?

No. Probably not. 

The kind of emotionally charged situation I am talking about occurs from the high level of concern on the guy's part,  mostly to do with the expense, but also from wanting to please his girlfriend, and the girl's concern for his stress levels as well as the hope that he'll be happy with the diamond she likes. The guy will be going over the numbers in his head trying to convince himself that he can handle the expense, while the girl will be thinking about how nicely this diamond is going look and she will also have her friends' reactions in mind. This combination creates an interesting dynamic. Once they have narrowed the choice down to a couple of diamonds or maybe one diamond her instinctive behavior at this point will be to be affectionate toward the guy. this usually happens once she sees there is a particular diamond ring that he has shown only moderate resistance to.

Diamond sales staff, if they are good at what they do, will be aware of the little signs that a couple displays when they are ready to buy. It is going to be nearly impossible for any attentive sales person to avoid noticing the tell-tale body language, because it is repeated so frequently by the many couples who come in to the store with the intention of buying.

Emotions can shut down our logical thinking, and usually do. At this stage many people really can't focus on a lot of things. This is why everyone can be vulnerable and would be much better off going to a jewelry store that has been recommended by their friends as being trustworthy and reliable.

Naturally it is going to be hard to ignore the cost savings to be found by online jewelers. Some of the same things apply if buying online: buy from jewelers who have taken the same ethical way of operating which they applied in their brick and mortar store to their online presence. Getting recommendations from family and friends is still a good idea. Most of them would very likely not recommend buying online if they have never done so. They may even be shocked that you are considering doing such a thing. Mind you it is possible they might change their tune when they hear how much you can save. But think of this. Is it worth saving $2000 only to regret the diamond you end up with?

I know many people that would be unable to hear the rest of what I have to say once they have been told how much money they can save by buying online.  What!? I can save $2000?! That is all they'll be able to think of when they hear that. Everything else is "Yeah, yeah, bla, bla, bla. hmmm save $2000".
That is another example of the logical thinking shutting down when overwhelmed by emotion, in this case it is a kind of greed. Also known as lust. You can see why "lust" made into the catholic "List of Top No-No's" also known as the Seven Deadly Sins.

 There are ways of buying diamonds online where you won't get ripped off. Of course there are. There are a number  of well respected jewelers that sell online and have a huge and growing list of satisfied customers. I even compiled a list of recommended diamond jewelers. 

However the temptation, when shopping online is to compare only the prices. When buying diamonds there is so much more than just price. For example, how many days are you given for examining the merchandise? Many places only give seven days. I find this an unreasonable amount of time. Ten days should be an absolute minimum. It is also important to have a clear line of communication with the jeweler. Do they answer the telephone? Do they reply to emails? Is it just a one man operation or do they have a dedicated team looking after their customers? Do they offer a generous return policy?

Do a bit of homework and you'll be very glad you did.

How Much Should I Spend On a Diamond Ring?

Hi Diamond Buying Advice, 

How much do I need to spend on a diamond ring? I am a little worried that if I spend a lot on this that it won't really be a good idea. If we get together we might need the money  to start getting other stuff too. What do people usually do? I don't want to be a cheapskate and just get a fake diamond. I will get something decent, I sort of think that it shows I am committed, you know. Also I am worried , let's say worst case scenario she wants more time to think about it, that ring, if she doesn't accept it, it's kind of expensive and I'm going to be kinda stuck with it.

LJ


Hi there LJ, 

1 carat diamonds are often a goal as many people find them to be the perfect size. The amount you spend (if it is a 1 carat diamond) depends on the quality of the diamond.

It is good to be a realist, even when caught up in the swirls of emotion and romance. The amount you spend on a ring is entirely up to you and it's only sensible to spend whatever you feel comfortable with and it is something you can manage. Jewelers find that a lot of people still spend the same amount as two months' salary on an engagement ring. This is why you will find some people spending $4000, and others $7500 or more.

Here is a little secret which can help you not worry about being stuck with an expensive ring. If you buy from a place that has a No Questions Asked Money Back Guarantee then you can return the ring if necessary. 

Be careful not to buy from a place that has only a very short time in which to return it. Seven days would be unreasonable for there to be enough time to plan the proposal and have enough leeway to return the ring if necessary. The amount of time varies from 7 days to 60 days. As you can see on this list here most respectable online diamond sellers give at least 10 days.

Custom work and engraving may not be eligible for returns, so it is a very good idea to read through the return policy of whichever site you are buying from.
I know it's sweet and all to have the ring engraved, but maybe that should be saved for the wedding rings. (We did!)

Help! I think my girlfriend wants a Marquise Diamond

Question: Hi, Diamond Buying Advice,

I've been looking to get an engagement ring, but am not really sure about all the different diamonds. I have it on good authority that my girlfriend likes the Marquise diamond. Where can I buy the Marquise? Is it expensive?

R.R.

Answer: Hello RR,

The marquise shape of diamond is a very elegant shape. It is often chosen to be worn by women with slender fingers. This shape falls under the category of "fancy cut". 

The length to width ratio is quite important when looking at marquise cut diamonds. I always recommend buying a diamond with an "Excellent" cut. The key to getting a marquise diamond which is brilliant and real sparkly is to check that the following are true of the diamond.

It should have a

Color "I" or lighter

Length to width ratio of 1.80 : 1.00.

As well as a depth of 61%.

One or two percentage points variation on the depth will make almost no difference. But these proportions mentioned above will give you the most brilliance.

The number for the depth percentage is found on a diamond's grading report as well as within the search parameters on a diamond vendor's website.

The length to width ratio is not written on a grading report.

This is the way you calculate it.

Let's say you look at a marquise diamond's grading report which says:

Measurements: 10.25 x 5.75 x 3.47 mm

Press the calculator button on your keyboard (if there is one)

Type in: 

10.75 
/
5.75

= 1.782608695652174

This gives is the length to width ratio.

1.78 : 1.00

This very close to the ideal proportions, but we can look further as it's possible to find one that has proportions even closer to 1.80 : 1.00. 

Here is another one: 10.38 x 5.66 x 3.49 mm

This one gives us a length to width ratio of 

1.83 : 1.00

This one we see ends up being slightly over our ideal, so we continue our search. the next one we decide to check out is a slightly smaller stone with the measurements of 9.69 x 4.70 x 2.76 mm

We do the math: 

9.69 
/
4.70

We find that this one is actually no closer to our ideal as it has a length to width ratio of

2.06 : 1.00

It looks like the first diamond of the three we looked at was the best choice and we might go with that one.

As far as price goes, marquise diamonds are often priced considerably lower than round brilliant diamonds with the same specifications. See these two diamonds compared. The one that is slightly larger is the marquise, and yet it is considerably less expensive than the round diamond. Not everything is exactly the same, however they are both quite close to being near the top of the range with identical color and clarity. 

CARAT	COLOR	CLARITY	CUT	DEPTH	TABLE	POLISH	SYM.	SHAPE	PRICE
0.95	I	VVS2	IDEAL	62.2%	58	EX	EX	ROUND	$6,301
0.98	I	VVS2	PREM	65.4%	63	VG	GD	MARQUISE	$3,719

See these recommended diamond vendors websites for up to date prices.

What is the name of a square diamond?

Question: Hi Diamond Buying Advice,

I was wondering what you call the diamond that has a square shape? Is this a good choice for an engagement ring?

J.R.

Answer: Hi J.R, 

The shape you are talking about must be the Princess cut diamond. It is the second most popular choice for engagement rings. It does have a pretty name. This shape falls in the category of Fancy Cut, which is any shape that is not a Round Brilliant. If you get this kind of shape and want it to look very clear and sparkly choose anything with a letter designation of D, E, F, G, H or I color. The diamond labelled an "I" color would be the most affordable. I recommend to look for a diamond which also has a cut rating of "Excellent".

A diamond with a cut rating of "Excellent Cut" will make a bigger difference than choosing one with a higher color grade.

Say you have the choice of two Princess cut diamonds.

1. One is an "I" color, with an "Excellent" cut.
2. The other is a "G" color with a "Good" cut.

You'll be much happier with the one that has an Excellent cut even though it has a slightly lower color grade of "I".

Fancy Cut diamonds which, as mentioned above, are any diamonds cut into a shape other than Round Brilliant. Fancy Cut diamonds do not have a section on their grading report which mentions the Cut Grade. Fortunately most vendors mention if the cut is Good, Very Good, Premium, Ideal/Excellent.

Diamond Grading Reports issued by GIA, AGSL, or EGL are considered trustworthy descriptions. These labs give you a decent and accurate description of the diamond, though they don't all have the exact same parameters. It's good when you can view the grading report when buying a diamond online.

Here you can see which diamond vendors let you see each diamond's grading report on their website.

Some sites call the Grading Report a Diamond Certificate, though the diamond grading labs actually call them Grading Reports as well as Diamond Dossiers for stones smaller than 1 ct.