Choosing the right engagement ring!

So you have found true love, you are ready to propose and you want to surprise the woman you would like to marry with an engagement ring that you have picked out yourself? Congratulations! You’ve come to the right place. The first step involves doing a little bit of research into your bride-to-be’s sense of style. Pay attention to the type of jewellery she wears now. Does she wear platinum, yellow gold or white gold? Would you consider the style of jewellery and clothing that she wears to be modern (she tends to like the latest fashions), classic (she prefers simple and conservative clothing) or vintage (she likes old-fashioned and romantic looks, perhaps from another era)? Does she tend to wear big, bold pieces of jewelry or small and dainty items? 

Answering these questions will assist you in choosing the perfect setting and style for the most meaningful piece of jewelry she’ll own.

Modern Diamond Shapes:  Princess, Trillion, Pear or Marquise cut. Ring Settings:  Tension, Bezel, or a Unique, Custom-Made ring.
Classic Diamond Shape:  Round Brilliant cut  Ring Setting:  Traditional 4-claw, or 6-claw ring.
Vintage Diamond Shapes:  This type of ring is available in just about every diamond shape:  Round Brilliant, Princess, Cushion or Pear. Ring Settings:  Pavé or Micro-Pavé setting

Our Web site has been set up to assist you in finding the perfect ring. Simply browse through our engagement rings and pick the style—Modern, Classic or Vintage—that you believe would best suit your future bride. 


2. What size? Deciding on the carat weight of the diamond

When you are deciding upon the size of the diamond for the ring, you are actually deciding upon its weight, which is measured in carats or points. Just as a dollar is divided into 100 pennies, a carat is divided into 100 points. For example, a 50-point diamond weighs 0.50 carats or a half-carat. But two diamonds of equal carat weight can carry very different price tags. That is because “Carat” weight represents just one of the Four C’s. A diamond’s value also depends upon how it is graded in terms of the other three members of the Four C’s: Clarity, Colour and Cut. Because even a fraction of a carat can make a considerable difference in how much a diamond costs, precision is crucial. Make sure you understand the Four C’s of a diamond. (To learn more about the Four C’s, visit the Diamond Knowledge & Support section of our Web site.)

Remember, bigger doesn’t always mean better! Do not judge a diamond’s quality merely by its size. If your bride-to-be likes larger-sized jewellery that makes a big statement, and you have a budget in mind, you can find a larger diamond of excellent gem quality by selecting one that is graded slightly lower in terms of the other three C's, colour, clarity or cut. The final decision requires finding the right balance between size and quality, and it is a personal choice. The most important thing is that the engagement ring suits the style of the woman wearing it, within the groom’s budget.

Tip: Pick the cut, colour, and clarity grade of the diamond first, before deciding upon the size of the gemstone. Doing so will make it easier to determine the carat weight of a diamond that will fit within your budget.


3. Detective work required: Determine her ring size

Figuring out the size of your bride-to-be’s ring finger before you make the purchase without spoiling the surprise may sound challenging, but it is not! Here are a few ways to do some undercover work and find out her ring size without spoiling the surprise.   

1. The easiest way to determine ring size is to take a ring that she already wears that fits her third finger (next to the pinky) and bring it with you to the jeweller.

2. If taking the ring itself is not possible, grab a pen and trace the inside of the ring onto a piece of paper.

3. Ask one of the bride-to-be’s close friends to go shopping with her and have the friend steer her to a jewellery store to try on a couple of rings. Ask the friend to have the salesperson casually take the size of her ring finger.

4. If your bride-to-be is a heavy sleeper, try taking a piece of string and wrapping it around her ring finger. Mark where the two ends overlap, and bring it into the jeweller.

Tip: If you cannot find her ring size, don’t worry. Raffi Jewellers can provide you with a ring that has some extra room for adjusting, and you can have the ring sized later.

4. The real deal: Make sure your diamond is certified and conflict-free

A certificate is a written, professional opinion prepared by an accredited appraiser that attests to the authenticity, quality, design and approximate value of a piece of jewellery for the purposes of retail replacement, probate or estate. The most common reason for obtaining an appraisal is for insurance purposes (i.e. insuring against loss, theft, or damage).

Reputable gemologists at the following world-renowned gemological laboratories certify Raffi Jewellers’ diamonds:

• GIA (Gemological Institute of America) • HRD Antwerp (Diamond High Council) • EGL (European Gemological Laboratory) • AGS (American Gem Society)

 




We want our customers to feel good about their diamond purchases, and it is our goal to ensure that the precious stones we offer are mined, processed and crafted into finished jewellery in ways that are socially responsible. The diamonds we sell are of certified origin and are obtained through suppliers that adhere to and enforce the standards established by the Kimberley Process, a global initiative that ensures diamonds are ethically sourced. Raffi Jewellers’ diamonds are individually tracked through a chain-of-custody system to ensure that ethical practices are used in mining, cutting and polishing the stones in accordance with the Kimberley Process, which adheres to mandates established by the United Nations. To learn more about the Kimberley Process, please visit www.kimberleyprocess.com.

For clients who wish to demonstrate their pride in Canada’s own natural resources (which includes our own diamond mines, of course), Raffi Jewellers provides the finest quality diamonds from Canadian mines in the Arctic region and from the Victor mines in Ontario. These diamonds are ethically mined, fully certified and laser-engraved with individual tracking numbers. Not only does the tracking number certify that your diamond is of Canadian origin, it also means that your diamond can be traced back to the very mine where it was found, and that you can find details on where the diamond was during various stages of the refinement process, the process through which rough diamonds are turned into polished diamonds.

In addition to national pride, some of Raffi Jewellers’ clients choose a Canadian diamond for emotional reasons. Perhaps you met your bride-to-be in Ontario, and that is where you fell in love. Wouldn’t it be meaningful to symbolize how important this is to you by purchasing a diamond that was mined, polished and cut in Ontario? Now that’s a stone with a story that you’ll be able to share—forever.