Diamond Wedding Rings

Measuring The Quality of Diamond Rings

The origin of the diamond engagement ring is quite interesting just as many other aspects of the marriage ceremony are. The diamond engagement ring originated with King Maximillian of Austria who presented Mary of Burgundy with a diamond ring in 1477 as a token of his love. The Venetians popularized the custom during the 15th century. Since diamonds were the hardest and most enduring substance in nature, it followed that the engagement and marriage would similarly endure forever. Diamonds define purity in every sense of the term.

The four C's are four variables that are used to calculate the value of a diamond. One of the "C's" is for Cut; shape would be a more accurate word rather than "cut" when we are talking about diamonds. Some shapes may have different arrangements or numbers of facets. Today, diamond rings are commonly classified into one of several shapes, they are round, pear, marquise, oval, square, emerald, radiant, and heart.

Another of the "C's" refers to the amount of color in the diamond. While it is generally true that colorless diamonds are more expensive than tinted diamonds, it is not true that they are better, just that there is a difference.

"C" is for clarity; clarity literally means "clearness" rather than lack of inclusions, and refers to the diamond's ability to allow the free passage of light without obstruction or absorption. Any inclusions, cleavages, cracks, or other natural features inside or defects on the surface will stop light from passing through the stone.

The final "C" is for carat weight. One carat is equal to 0.20 grams. Value generally increases with carat size, because there is a higher demand and a lower supply of large diamonds. Size in this context really means weight, for large diamonds will weigh more than small ones.

We hope this article has been informative and has helped in your search for more diamond wedding ring information.

For Your Free Wedding Planning Guide, Visit http://www.weddingplanchecklist.com.

Feel free to reprint this article as long as you link back to this article's URL: