One of the most intimate jewelry pieces a woman will ever own is her engagement ring. Aside from the sentimental value, an engagement ring is likely to be one of your most valuable pieces of jewelry. Although there is a lot to consider when picking an engagement ring, you may not have to spend more than you can afford to acquire a band that looks sophisticated and, well, costly.
According to jewelry experts, there is a list of characteristics that make the engagement ring appear cheaper, despite its cost, cut, and carat size. Let’s take a look at some of these overlooked factors that can make your expensive engagement ring look cheaper.
Diamond Colors That Are Mismatched
Cut, color, carat, and clarity are the four characteristics used to grade diamonds. You can get away with any mix of the above, but most consumers prefer to avoid diamonds with extremely low color grades. Color grades K, L, and M diamonds have a strong yellow tinge and don’t seem quite like the dazzling, white diamond you’ve always imagined. Although you may be able to increase the carat weight, experts recommend cutting back to a whiter diamond which might appear more valuable overall.
Imbalanced Prongs
Too wide or hefty prongs can detract from the beauty of a core diamond and make an engagement ring appear cheap. If you’re working with a quarter-carat or a five-carat diamond, be sure it’s set by a professional. Imperfect settings that resemble an arts and crafts effort are not desirable in a solid investment such as an engagement ring. Sharp claw prongs have a more delicate appearance but are robust enough to retain the diamond in position over time.
High-Set Diamonds
An engagement ring with excessively high-set diamonds may appear cheap. This is frequently the result of visiting a jeweler that uses a mass-produced setting designed to fit a wide range of diamond sizes. The space underneath the culet will be too much. Most diamond brands create custom settings based on the diamond’s specifications. This results in a setting that is low on the finger and more pleasant to wear on a daily basis.
Sloppy Metalwork
Poor metalwork shouts “cheap” more than anything else. Make sure your engagement ring’s design is original and not a poor copy of something else.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for a diamond engagement ring that is cheaper but looks the same, then you should choose lab-grown diamonds. Lab diamonds are identical to real diamonds but they are around 40 % cheaper.