When shopping for an engagement or wedding ring (or any wedding jewelry for that matter) you?re likely to encounter a few complicated terms in the process. While a good jeweler with a sense of customer service will be able to explain everything to you, trying to understand new terminology while picking out the perfect ring might be overwhelming. Hence, it will ease your stress if you familiarize yourself with them beforehand. Prior to visiting your chosen jewelry shop, take a look at this brief glossary of common terms you?re likely to hear in the engagement ring buying process.
The “4 Cs”

This is an acronym referring to the four key qualities of diamonds and precious stones that determine their value. The “Four Cs” include cut, color, clarity, and carat. All of these should be considered when purchasing any valuable gemstone. Alloy

Because precious metals aren?t durable in the long-term, most jewelry pieces are not pure. Instead, they are often sold as an alloy (mix) of multiple metals. There are, however, a few exceptions to this. Gold, for example, is often alloyed with other metals because it’s very soft on its own, but you can find 100% gold (or 24k) pieces. For a wedding band or engagement ring, this is not recommended as the ring will show wear and tear quickly.
In addition, gold is also mixed with other metals, sometimes naturally, in order to achieve different colors. For example, rose gold is usually a mix of gold and copper, and...