Romantic Gifts Of Love (NAPSA)—Whetherit’s the day you pop the question, an anniver- sary or any special occasion, nothing says “I love you forever” quite like a diamond. But while love may be blind, there are a few things you — es should keep in mind before heading out to buy that diamond engagement ring or, in fact, any diamondgift. First, understand what the 4Cs are. These are the four factors that determine the value of the diamond, and thus the value of the ring. A good way to learn about the 4Cs—which are cut, color, clarity and carat weight—is to visit www.adiamondisforever.com. Next, set a budget: Determine how much money you want to spend before you go into the store and stick to it. For diamond engagement rings, two months’ salary is a good starting point. Now you're ready to go to a reputable jeweler in your area. Before you do, ask friends or co-workers for recommendations. Shape The first thing to think about when choosing a diamond ring is the shape of the stoneitself. Here are sometips: J Nearly half of all diamond engage- mentrings are a round cut. ing in popularity. Katherine Heigl wears a 3-carat pear shape. Katie Holmeshasan oval-cut diamond. Style There are also a variety of styles and designs to choose from: A center stone with smaller stones aroundit is a style favored by manybrides to-be, as is the classic diamondsolitaire ring. e A romantic or sentimental choice is the three-stone ring, as the stones represent your past, present and future. Romantic Gifts Even if you’re already married— or never intend to be—consider a special Journey Diamondpiece. Round cut is most tradi- These are graduated diamondsthat 47 percent of brides received a bolize how yourlove grows stronger and deeper over time. tional and most popular. In 2006, round-cut diamond engagement ring. It can be used in a variety of settings but is able to stand alone as a solitaire. The emeraldcutis a very ele- gant cut, chic and sophisticated. High-quality stones are needed for this and work best with simple settings. Eva Longoria has an emerald-cut ring. Fancy shapes, such as the pear shapeor oval shape, are gain- go from smaller to larger and sym- On the other hand, you can show how much you think of her with a right-hand ring. Diamond right-hand rings reflect a woman’s own unique individuality and style. Left-hand rings are about “the two of you”; right-hand rings celebrate “her.” Learn More You can learn more online at www.adiamondisforever.com.
