The moment you mention that you will soon be buying a diamond ring, whether it is for an engagement, a special gift, or simply as a token of affection, everyone you speak to will have a story about diamond rings. Depending on their personality ? it could be a story about a terrible trick played on someone they know, or it could be a wonderful heart-warming tale of true love and clever investment. Here is how to make sure yours is one of the latter!
Buying Diamond Rings: The Ultimate Guide

Do Not Listen to ‘Everyone’
‘Everyone knows that the best shape is x, y or z,’ ‘Everyone knows the right diamond color is?’, ‘Everyone knows that the value of diamonds is artificially inflated?,’ ‘everyone knows’ ? an amazing variety of factoids, which often are based on rumor and with just the merest grain of truth to them ? just enough, in fact, to make sensible people doubt their decision to buy a diamond ring in the first, which is usually what the naysayers are after, for reasons only they know!
The Truth
The truth is that the best shape for a diamond depends on the diamond in question, and which size and shape you like is unique to you: there is no rule stating that you ‘must have’ this many carats, or that cut. Choose the diamond that you love and go with it! And as for the price of diamonds being artificially inflated, while there is certainly monitoring of the diamond trade to prevent the occasional glut fr...