Buying an Engagement Ring - An Illustrated Guide

The metal of an engagement ring can affect its style as much as the diamond. Does your future fiancé tend to wear more silver or gold jewelry? Do you like the look of diamonds more against gold or against silver? The most common metals for engagement rings are:

Gold – The classic look of gold explains why it might be the most popular choice for an engagement ring. Be a savvy shopper: gold jewelry is available in several different carats; typically 9k, 14k and 18k, which indicate the proportion of pure gold to other metals in the ring. (18k is 75% pure gold.). To the average shopper, the important differences between the carats are a) color: 18k has a richer, more yellow color than 9kt. b) Price: 9kt is considerably cheaper than 18k. c) Durability: 18k is slightly harder, making it stand up better to everyday wear.

Platinum – For those who don't like the look of gold, or who are looking for something more durable, consider platinum. Romantics like platinum engagement rings because it's pure, as they imagine their love to be. Be aware that platinum costs considerably more.

White Gold – While it doesn't have the steely whiteness of platinum, white gold is a good, more affordable alternative.

For example, at Diamonds International currently, the gold and white gold rings pictured above cost $595 each (as pictured with .33k diamond solitaire). The least expensive platinum solitaire available is a .5k diamond, and costs $1785.