LovBe Explains the Four C's of Engagement Rings

If you have ever looked up engagement rings or even shopped for them, you may have stumbled across the four c's. The c's stand for carat, clarity, color and cut of the diamond in the engagement ring. While these may seem like simple concepts, it is very important to understand what each means to ensure your ring is the highest quality! Thankfully, the experts at LovBe are here to explain each "c" to us!

What is a carat and how does it change a ring?

"A ‘carat’ is the term used by the jewelry industry to describe the unit of measure for the weight of a diamond. Simply, it is how much a diamond weighs. The carat weight can alter the look of a ring, as a larger diamond, one with greater carat weight, will affect the stone-to-band ratio. A larger carat weight will also increase the cost of a ring, as larger diamonds cost more than smaller ones. However, LovBe offers lab-grown diamonds that are twice the carat weight of a mined diamond for the same price. For example, this means you can afford a two-carat lab-grown diamond for the price of a one-carat mined diamond, allowing your budget to go A LOT further!"

How is clarity measured and why does it matter?

"A diamond’s clarity refers to the presence or absence of inclusions and blemishes, which are markings caused during the formation of the stone. Clarity is graded on a scale that ranges from Flawless, which means the diamond possesses no inclusions, to Included, where the markings are obviously visible under magnification. The fewer inclusions, the more valuable the diamond, and thus, the higher price. All the diamonds in LovBe’s collection are of unmatched color and clarity, with only 2 in every 10 diamonds passing their strict quality control standards. Meaning, you’re shopping the best of the best lab-grown diamonds out there."
 

How does color affect the diamond's appearance, and how can you make it stand out more?

"White diamonds are graded on a scale of 'D', which means colorless, to 'Z', which would be a brownish yellow color. Those graded nearer to the 'D' end of the scale are deemed most valuable, as colorless diamonds are highly sought after. As you go further down the alphabet, diamonds will appear ‘warmer’, or have a yellow tinge to them."

"To make a diamond stand out more, think about the setting in which it will sit. Consider pairing it with a white metal, such as white gold or platinum, both of which will not add any additional color to the stone. Alternatively, consider setting the diamond with smaller side stones or with a halo bezel setting, that will increase the brilliance and overall sparkle of the look."

What is the cut of a gemstone?

"The 'cut' of an engagement ring refers to the shape of the diamond. There are more than a dozen different diamond cuts or shapes, including classics such as round brilliants, to those considered 'fancy shapes', such as pear, emerald and princess cuts. Selecting a diamond shape for your engagement ring is a great way to express your personal style. Those brides-to-be who trend towards wanting something more timeless may consider ovals or cushion cuts. While those who are wanting something a bit more unique may want to seek out heart shapes or marquis, a cut that falls within the ‘fancy shapes’ category."
 

Which cut is right for you?

"Selecting a cut of diamond is an absolute personal preference. It is one of the most exciting parts of ring shopping—trying on many different shapes to see which one makes your heart skip a beat! It may be helpful to start your research weeks or months before you are ready to buy a ring, allowing for plenty of time to look at images of engagement rings on platforms such as Pinterest or try out a virtual ring builder like LovBe’s. You can select a diamond shape, pick from more than 1,000 settings, and ‘see’ the ring in 360-degrees to explore every angle. Soon you know which cut really ‘speaks’ to you and is the perfect shape for your engagement ring."

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