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1. Skip cubic zirconia It's far less expensive than diamonds and is supposed to simulate the look of a diamond — but since it's too sparkly, it often looks fake. It's better to opt for a smaller diamond with a lower color rating than an obvious imposter. 2. That said, man-made diamonds look great Now that we know the high-heat, high-pressure conditions required to create diamonds naturally, scientists have developed a way to create actual diamonds in a lab that are structurally identical to natural diamonds. They're much less expensive (about 30 percent less than natural ones), but the downside is that you lose the history (millions of years to form in nature versus a few days in a lab) and the rarity that help make diamonds so special. 3. Skip rose-cut diamonds Antique-looking rose-cut rings, a sort of multi-faceted dome-shaped diamond, are becoming trendy again — but if sparkle matters to you, steer clear. The cut greatly cuts down on the sparkle of a diamond because it lets light leak out.
The chances are small you'll hate the ring your fiancé picks, but if you do, you can always modify the setting (for example, adding side stones or a diamond band if you want more drama, or removing stones if you prefer to keep it more simple) and still keep the original diamond he chose. 5. Or, you can return the ring if you don't love it All reputable jewelers should have a return policy where you can exchange the ring for something you prefer, or return the whole thing for a full refund. 6. Add a halo One of the most popular styles recently is adding a halo of smaller diamonds around the perimeter of your center diamond. It's a great way to add bling without adding a ton to the price tag, and it can create the illusion of a larger overall stone.
Platinum is the most expensive metal for your setting because it's the most difficult for jewelers to manipulate, but it's far more durable than white gold as it develops a soft patina with wear instead of scratching. Also, platinum is the most white-looking metal, so unlike traditional gold or even white gold, it won't impart any hint of color when you look at the diamond. 8. Palladium is another good option Palladium is platinum's sister metal, which is also very white, durable, and won't tarnish — only it's less expensive than platinum, being more price-comparable to white gold. 9. Consider a rose gold band This retro, romantic style is trending again and lends a unique look to a ring. The only downside is that its reflection can impart a hint of color when you look at the diamond, making it look a tad less bright-white. 10. Don't take it off It's never a good idea to take your ring off, especially when you're away from home — that's the time when rings are most likely to be lost. |
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