Buying a diamond is easier when you know what you’re paying for. You need to consider the stone itself, how it’s been produced, how it’s been graded and how it will look as a ring.
Man made diamonds are diamonds that have been grown in controlled facilities rather than being extracted from the earth. They have the same carbon crystal structure as mined diamonds. They can also be assessed using the familiar characteristics of cut, colour, clarity and carat weight.
For you as a buyer, the important thing is not where the diamond came from. You need to know whether it has the right proportions and documented quality for your ring and budget.
How Diamonds Are Grown
There are two established methods used to grow gem quality diamonds. They’re called High Pressure High Temperature and Chemical Vapour Deposition.
High Pressure High Temperature
High Pressure High Temperature is commonly known as HPHT. The process creates conditions so that carbon crystals up around a diamond seed.
Pressure and temperature are controlled as the diamond grows and then the rough diamond can be cut and polished in much the same way as mined rough.
Chemical Vapour Deposition
Chemical Vapour Deposition is known as CVD. A diamond seed is placed in a chamber where carbon gases are introduced. Carbon builds up in thin layers on the seed under controlled conditions. Later this is cut and polished.
You don’t necessarily need to choose your engagement ring based on whether its diamond was produced using HPHT or CVD. The stones cut quality, colour, clarity, its dimensions and certification are generally more useful factors when comparing individual diamonds.
What Makes a Diamond Suitable for an Engagement Ring?
A diamond can look impressive on a grading report but less impressive once you see it in a ring. Numbers matter but you need to use them to evaluate the stone rather than use numbers to replace visual assessment.
Cut First
Cut determines how light moves through a diamond and comes back to your eye. A well proportioned round diamond can look lively and bright. A badly proportioned stone can look dull even if it has high colour and clarity grades.
After cut determine the colour and clarity in relation to the setting.
A white metal like white gold can make differences in diamond colour more noticeable in some designs. You don’t automatically need the highest colour grade. Compare adjacent grades and decide whether you can see sufficient difference to warrant the extra cost.
The same principle applies to clarity. A diamond can have small internal characteristics that are not readily apparent during wear.
Look Beyond Carat Weight
Carat is a measure of weight, it doesn’t tell you how large a diamond will appear when viewed from above.
Two diamonds of equal weight can look different when viewed from above. One may carry more of its weight in its depth while another may have a larger face up spread.
Check:
- Carat weight
- Dimensions in millimetres
- The cut proportions
- The table and depth information where relevant
- The overall shape
This gives you a more complete picture than simply carat weight.
For example, imagine you are comparing two round diamonds that both weigh 1.00 carat. If one has noticeably smaller face up dimensions, it may look smaller in the finished ring despite having the same listed weight.
Choosing a Diamond Shape
Shape has a major influence on the character of an engagement ring. It can also affect how large the centre stone appears.
Round brilliant diamonds are designed using a standardised facet pattern. Oval, pear, marquise and emerald cuts create different visual proportions.
An oval can give you an elongated appearance. The emerald cut produces broader flashes of light and makes it easier to inspect for clarity as it has such large, open facets. A cushion can have softer corners and a more compact outline.
Don’t select a shape simply because it’s currently popular. Look at the shape on the hand. Consider finger proportions, setting design and the type of jewellery you normally wear.
Why White Gold Works Well for Engagement Rings
White gold gives you an engagement ring the light metal appearance of platinum without actually using platinum. It’s created alloying gold with other metals to make it a metal alloy suitable for jewellery.
White gold engagement rings are commonly rhodium plated to give a bright white surface. That finish can wear, depending on wear and your personal preferences, the ring may need to be replated at some point.
This is worth knowing before you buy because an engagement ring is worn frequently. Maintenance is part of ownership.
Ask the jeweller about the gold purity and aftercare. In Australia, you’ll commonly find 9ct, 14ct and 18ct gold jewellery. The composition and properties differ so it’s worth comparing beyond appearance.
Matching the Stone to the Setting
The setting does more than hold the diamond. It affects the ring’s appearance, its profile and its practical behaviour.
A solitaire keeps attention to one centre stone. Halo adds smaller stones around the centre. Three-stone designs create more coverage across the finger. Pavé settings introduce small stones along the band.
If you use your hands quite a bit at work or during your day to day activities, be sure to inspect the height of the setting. A very high centre stone can catch on clothing and other objects more often than a lower profile design.
Also inspect the prongs or claws as they need to hold the stone securely without dominating its appearance.
Where Man Made Diamonds Can Change Your Budget
Your budget should provide for the complete ring rather than just the centre diamond. This includes the setting, metal, side stones, possible resizing and future maintenance.
Man made diamonds can provide you with an alternate way to allocate your budget. Instead of automatically increasing carat weight, you may be able to put more money into the setting, cut quality, or another feature you value.
Set Your Priorities Before Comparing Stones
- Choose a total ring budget.
- Decide which diamond shape you prefer.
- Set a realistic size range rather than one exact carat weight.
- Prioritise cut and visible appearance.
- Compare colour and clarity grades side side.
- Leave room in the budget for the setting.
This process prevents you from spending heavily on specifics you may not see much visible benefit from.
Check the Grading Report
A grading report provides you with independent information about the diamond’s characteristics. Depending on the lab and diamond, the report can include measurements, carat weight, colour, clarity and other grading details.
Read the report rather than simply checking that a report exists.
Confirm that the identifying information matches the diamond you’re considering. Review measurements and headline grades. For fancy shapes, look to length and width as these influence the stone’s outline and face up appearance.
A grading report is useful evidence, it is not a replacement for looking at the diamond.
Compare Diamonds Under Normal Lighting
Jewellery store lighting makes it look particularly bright. Try to check a ring in multiple lighting conditions if you can.
Look it up near a window, move away from concentrated display lights, view it from different angles.
Ask Yourself Some Simple Questions
Does the diamond still look bright?
Can you see any inclusions without magnification?
Does the colour look right next to the chosen metal?
Does the shape look balanced?
You are buying something that will spend most of its time out of a jewellery display cabinet.
Think About Long-Term Wear
An engagement ring needs to not only work as a piece of jewellery but as an everyday object.
Consider how easy the setting is to clean and check if the design has delicate areas that may require more attention. Think about how the engagement ring will come beside a future wedding band. Some settings sit flush with straight wedding bands, others may require a curved or shaped band because the centre setting extends outward.
Planning for this now can make things simpler when the time comes.
You should also ask what maintenance the jeweller recommends, prongs can require inspection over time. White gold may need refinishing or rhodium replating. Small accent stones should also be inspected periodically.
Buying in Melbourne
If you’re shopping locally, seeing rings in person can help you see proportions that are hard to judge from photos.
Compare several diamond sizes on your hand rather than deciding from carat numbers alone, try different band widths, look at the white gold in natural light and ask to compare diamonds with neighbouring colour and clarity grades.
This is especially helpful when researching white gold engagement rings Melbourne jewellers offer as two rings that have similar specifications can look quite different once you see their proportions and settings in person.
Bring a clear budget and a short list of priorities with you. It’ll make comparisons easier.
Questions to Ask Before Paying
Before buying a ring, get clear answers about the diamond and the finished jewellery.
Ask who graded the diamond. Check whether you get the grading report with the purchase. Confirm the gold purity. Ask about resizing and whether the chosen design has sizing limitations.
You should also understand the store’s return, exchange and warranty terms before paying.
For a custom ring, ensure the man made diamonds are confirmed in writing. That includes diamond details, ring metal, size, setting style and arrangements for completion.
FAQ
Are man made diamonds real diamonds?
Yes. They’re diamonds produced in controlled facilities rather than being formed naturally underground. They have the carbon crystal structure that is associated with diamond. They shouldn’t be confused with simulants such as cubic zirconia.
Is white gold suitable for an engagement ring?
Yes. White gold is commonly used for engagement rings. You should factor in routine maintenance as the rhodium finish commonly applied to white gold can wear over time.
Should I choose the highest colour and clarity grades?
Not automatically. Compare stones visually and consider the setting. A lower grade that still looks clean and suitably white to your eye might be a better choice for your budget than paying for differences you can’t easily see.
