Buying a diamond can be stressful. It is a large purchase of an item most people know very little about. It does not have to be that way. The old saying, "If you don't know jewelry, know your jeweler" is still true. It is worth your while to look around and talk to others about where they shopped, and their satisfaction with the jeweler they chose. I try to educate my customers about whatever they purchase and I hope to do the same for you. Doing this will give you a bit of an edge while shopping.

What should you spend on an engagement ring? DeBeers has long advertised the "Two Month Salary Guideline", but this is not a hard and fast rule. As a jeweler, some might think I believe the ring is the most important consideration for a couple planning to marry. I don't. There are a few other considerations of love, trust, food, and shelter, which are far more important. If the size, quality or price of a diamond had anything to do with the success of a marriage, Elizabeth Taylor would have never left Richard Burton. He gave her a 69.42 carat diamond. A diamond is merely a symbol of love, you should spend an amount you are comfortable with. If at some point in the future you want to purchase a larger diamond, most jewelers will allow you at least what you paid for your original diamond, if you trade it in on the new diamond. (How many other things can you buy, use and trade back for at least what you paid for it?)

When I first meet a customer I am often asked the price of a diamond of a certain carat weight. Imagine going to a car dealer and asking how much a 3100 pound car costs. The car salesman, after he regains his composure, might ask what type, year, style, mileage and equipment the car has. He needs to know something about the quality of the car before he can answer. The same is true about diamonds. I need to know something about the quality and size of a diamond before I can answer. The quality and price of a diamond is determined by its clarity, color, cut and carat weight. These are the four Cs.