01
The ten mistakes
In rough order of how often they cause regret:
- 1. Choosing on carat alone
- A big, poorly cut stone looks smaller and duller than a slightly lighter, well-cut one. Size on paper is not size on the hand.
- 2. Ignoring the cut
- Cut decides the sparkle. It is the one grade worth stretching for.
- 3. Paying for grades you cannot see
- D colour and flawless clarity are rare, but G to H and an eye-clean VS2 look white and clean on the hand.
- 4. Buying without an independent report
- Without one, you are taking the seller’s word for everything.
- 5. Not matching the report to the stone
- Check the inscription on the girdle and the measurements against the report.
- 6. Choosing for yourself, not the wearer
- The shape and style they love matter more than the one you would pick.
- 7. A setting that does not suit the life
- A high, delicate setting on someone who works with their hands is a repair waiting to happen.
- 8. Forgetting the wedding band
- Decide early whether a band needs to sit flush, so the two rings can be designed together.
- 9. Leaving it too late
- Made-to-order rings take weeks. Start two to three months before the date.
- 10. Not insuring it
- Insure it from the day it is yours, ideally before the proposal.