There are so many diamond jewelery retailers today, both online, mail order and on the high street that is really is very difficult to know where to buy your engagement ring. The internet is rapidly becoming the number one resource for diamond jewelery, both as a source for research and for the actual purchase of such items.

Niche companies, specializing in different areas of expertise are to be found far and wide on the internet. Diamond specialists offer advice, information and competitive prices. It is often wise to seek a recommendation and to look at previous work carried out by the company, where possible. Also check to see if the company is a member of any professional organization. Here in the UK we have the British jewelers Association which offers details of members on its website.

Certified diamonds are now increasingly popular when it comes to the purchase of higher color and clarity diamonds above 0.33cts. Basically, a certified diamond is any diamond that has been graded in laboratory conditions to produce an accompanying report detailing specific information about the diamond. Details such as the weight, color, clarity, proportions and shape are noted. Several laboratories carry out much of the work, each having gained a reputation for consistent grading. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is one such laboratory. Others include IGI, HRD, and AGS.

One of the wonderful things about buying online (or researching online) is the convenience. For those people who work shifts, the internet provides the ideal source for shopping out of hours. One of the wonderful tools that harnessed by small niche online retailers is the provision of precise information by email. Some larger companies will often lose this personal informative touch, which is so important to those seeking more detailed information.

For those buying engagement rings or any diamond jewelery, it is always advisable to contact the online company initially. You will gain a feel for how the company works by the information and tone of the response to your inquiry.

When you are deciding on the ring itself, consider the tastes of your partner and try to choose something that appeals to their tastes and matches jewelery already worn. Remember this is something that will be worn daily for the rest of their life. Most of your budget will be spent on the diamond itself, so spend a little time getting to know what to look for. Diamonds graded G to I in colour will appear white and will be less expensive than premium white color such as D to F. The clarity of the diamond is also important. You might want a diamond clear to the naked eye, without paying a premium for marks that can only be detected under a microscope. In this instance try keeping to SI1 clarity. Provided the diamond has been graded within strict standards (as upheld by the GIA and other reputable laboratories) your diamond will appear white without any inclusions visible to the naked eye. As you improve on color and clarity from here, your price will increase.

A diamond of a particular weight will often fall within certain measurements. For example, a round brilliant cut diamond, weighing 0.50cts will typically measure 5mm. Consider checking that your diamond is close to typical measurements. If it falls below this, it might be indicative of a thickly cut stone, which should carry a cheaper price tag.

Finally, a note on the precious metal that you will select for your engagement ring. Platinum is very popular but remains an expensive metal due to the rarity and cost of producing the metal. For white metal, 18ct white gold remains a popular choice. It is hard enough to protect the diamond whilst being more affordable. If it is yellow gold you prefer, 18ct Yellow Gold is hard enough to keep its shape. It is usually advisable to have a white gold setting, in keeping with the whiteness of the diamond. Consider some of the above advice when researching engagement rings and you will be a little closer to finding the perfect ring.