The Most Commonly Asked Questions About Engagement Rings Now Answered

Posted in: Engagement

If you’re getting ready to pop the question to your significant other, you likely have a lot of questions about diamond engagement ring shopping. After all, there’s a chance you haven’t purchased something quite like a beautiful ring before, and you probably don’t want to make any mistakes if you can avoid it. 

We’ve covered some of the most commonly asked questions below, so you can have complete confidence when the time comes to go shopping. 

Should I Buy Lab-Grown Synthetic Diamonds or Real Diamonds?   

The first synthetic diamonds were manufactured in 1954, and they have taken the market by storm in recent months. Lab-grown diamonds, as they are also known, are produced by subjecting carbon-bearing materials, like graphite, to high pressure and high temperature - HPHT.  

Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) is a more recent method of production. This method does produce colourless synthetic diamonds and growth rates are now a matter of weeks. In chemical vapour deposition, a thin “seed” diamond is placed inside a sealed chamber and subjected to high temperatures, generally around 800 degrees celcius. A carbon rich gas mixture, usually of hydrogen and methane is then introduced into the chamber. 

The end result is a diamond with the same optical, physical, and chemical properties as a natural diamond. So, should you buy a lab-grown diamond or a real, natural one? It’s a personal preference, but the impact on the environment is what may make you decide to opt for those formed in the earth. 

According to some sources, a natural polished diamond has an estimated 69% less carbon dioxide footprint than its manufactured counterpart. Our universal goal is to reduce our carbon footprint, and purchasing synthetic diamonds may not help us reach this goal. 

CVD diamonds are produced in approximately six weeks, depending on the diamond size. A natural diamond is between one and three billion years old. Lab-grown diamonds will have a very low resale value with retail prices decreasing over the years due to increased production and improved manufacturing techniques. 

Are Coloured Diamonds Natural?

When you see diamond engagement rings, they typically feature a gorgeous crystal-clear diamond that sparkles in different lighting. This might lead you to believe that coloured diamonds aren’t natural - they are. Diamonds can also be colour treated, but there can be a vast difference in price between natural and treated coloured diamonds. 

Coloured diamonds get their colours during millions of years of formation, with trace elements interacting with carbon atoms while developing. For example, boron and nitrogen elements can create diamonds in blue and yellow colours. Green diamonds are produced by being exposed to natural radiation in the earth’s crust. 

However, pink, red, and brown diamonds differ. Rather than being coloured because of trace elements, their colour comes from distortion in the crystal lattice caused by pressure and heat during formation. 

Diamonds are available in a wide variety of colours, such as: 

• Pink
• Yellow
• Orange
• Green
• Brown
• Purple
• Violet
• Red
• Blue
• Grey 

How Do You Know If a Diamond is Real?

When you decide to buy a diamond engagement ring online, one thing that may concern you is whether or not you’re purchasing a legitimate, genuine diamond. What you see online isn’t always what you get when you don’t shop with trustworthy businesses. 

One of the best ways to shop with confidence is by choosing well-known, reputable diamond sellers. It’s also essential to make sure that the diamond you purchase comes with a comparable diamond report. 

Should You Buy Engagement Rings Online?

Alongside making sure the diamond is legitimate, you likely also want to know if it’s safe to buy a diamond engagement ring online, as well. 

While there is certainly value in shopping at a bricks-and-mortar establishment, buying online can be safe. However, there are just a few things to be sure of first. 

Make sure the site is safe with SSL encryption and secure payment processes. Scan the site for contact information so that someone is available to answer your questions, and look out for warranty details. 

When you shop with well-known diamond sellers in NZ like Diamonds.co.nz, you receive a lifetime manufacturing warranty with all jewellery items. 

How Can You Tell If Diamonds Are Ethical?

You can’t tell by looking at a diamond whether it’s ethical or not. However, where you source your diamonds can make a world of difference. 

For example, Diamonds.co.nz only sources diamonds from companies with Kimberley Process certification. The Kimberley Process aims to reduce conflict diamonds that have been used to finance wars against governments around the world. By only purchasing diamonds from reputable suppliers, you can buy with complete confidence. 

How Do You Know You’re Buying the Right Size Engagement Ring?

Perhaps one of the biggest challenges you might face above and beyond selecting an engagement ring style is choosing the ring size. If you are not buying the ring with your significant other, there may be a little guesswork involved. 

However, there doesn’t have to be. You can secretly measure other rings your spouse owns or encourage one of their friends to help find the correct size. If you are buying with your significant other, you can measure their finger and use a ring sizing guide. 

Fortunately, many leading jewellers in NZ and online offer resizing in case you don’t quite get it right the first time. However, it’s worth trying your best to measure correctly as not all ring materials can be resized safely.