1) The 4 C's of Diamonds
Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat Weight
Cut: The cut of a diamond has the biggest affect on its sparkle or brilliance. Even with perfect color and clarity, a poor cut can make a diamond look dull and boring. Ideal, Very Good, and Good diamonds possess the most brilliance.

Color: Colorless diamonds are most highly valued and are the most expensive. Color is ranked on a scale from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow). Pearlman's recommends choosing a color D through H, or D through I if the stone goes in a yellow gold setting. Below is the color scale with the most desired, colorless stones highest:

• Colorless: D-F
• Near Colorless: G-J
• Faint Yellow: K-M
• Very Light Yellow: N-R
• Light Yellow: S-Z

Clarity: Clarity is defined by the inclusions within a stone. An inclusion is a naturally occurring flaw (feather, fracture, fissure, carbon spot, or cloud), within a diamond or other stone. Diamonds free from internal flaws or inclusions, are very rare and highly valued. The best value in diamond clarity is a diamond with no inclusions visible to the unaided eye. Below is the clarity scale with the most desired clarity listed highest

• IF - Internally Flawless
• VVS1, VVS2 - Very Very Slightly Included
• VS1, VS2 - Very Slightly Included
• SI1, SI2 - Slightly Included
• I1, I2, I3 - Included – Inclusions are visible to the unaided eye

Diamonds with clarity of SI2 or better do not have inclusions visible to the human eye, and can only be seen under powered magnification.

Carat weight: Larger diamonds are more rare than smaller diamonds, so diamond value rises with carat weight. An understanding of cut, color, and clarity will help you balance the overall diamond quality with its size.

2) Diamond Shapes
Ice, Ice Baby

When searching for the perfect engagement ring, it helps to understand the different styles and design conventions. It's most helpful to start with the diamond shape.

The most requested diamond shapes are: Round, Princess, Emerald, Radiant, Cushion and Asscher. With other popular shapes being: Pear, Oval, Heart, Trillion and Marquise. Each shape can further be accentuated by adding side baguettes (small rectangular stones), trillions or other shaped side stones.

3) Choosing the Right Engagement Ring
Will She Love it?

You know that presenting her with a sparkling engagement ring when you propose is more romantic than asking her to take a trip with you to Mystique. What if you make the wrong choice? No need to panic. By considering her tastes and lifestyle, we can help bring you closer to the perfect decision. Here are some tips:

Take a good look at the color of jewelry she wears. Does she prefer platinum, yellow gold, or white gold?

Ask her friends, sister, or mother if there is a particular type or style of ring she likes.

Another option is to present her with a diamond and pick out the setting together later. Or, you can stick with a classic diamond solitaire in 18k gold or platinum and the two of you can choose a final setting together.

4) Common Stone Settings
Common Settings

Classic Diamond Solitaire Setting: The solitaire is the most classic engagement ring setting. It has a prong setting that ensures your diamond is visible from all sides, catching the most light.

Cathedral Setting: In a cathedral setting, a prong-set diamond lies flush with the setting, protecting the diamond. The open sides allow light to enter for brilliance. This is a more substantial setting. Prong-Set Side Stone Setting: Also called a three-stone ring, this style is more brilliant with diamond side stones. The prong-set side stones receive light from all angles to reflect light.

Contour Setting: The contour setting is an updated twist on the classic solitaire style. The prong setting lifts the diamond off the ring and allows it to catch and reflect light.

Bezel Setting: The diamond is surrounded by a band of precious metal, protecting it, and keeping it very secure.

Tension Setting: The diamond is held in place by thousands of pounds of pressure and appears to hover in space. This allows light from all angles and is a very unique choice.

5) Choosing the Right Metal
The Right Precious Metal

You basically have three choices in metal for engagement rings and wedding bands: platinum, 18k yellow or white gold. The cool, elegant look of platinum is especially popular today and with good reason: it is the strongest, most pure metal. Platinum is more rare than gold and will last a lifetime, resisting chipping and tarnishing. White gold has a look similar to platinum, but is more malleable and less expensive.

If your intended prefers the classic look of yellow gold, 18k gold is a safe bet. It's the most common engagement ring setting and is less expensive than platinum.

Most of the designers that Mystique represents create engagement rings in platinum and 18k gold. Some to consider include the elegant and unique designs of Jack Kelege

6) Platinum 101
Platinum Frequently Asked Questions

The cool, elegant look of platinum for engagement rings and other jewelry is especially popular today and with good reason: it is the strongest, most pure metal. Platinum is more rare than gold and will last a lifetime, resisting chipping and tarnishing.

Is purity important? Yes. Platinum is hypoallergenic and rarely tarnishes, making it easy for sensitive people to wear. Also, platinum's purity makes it one of the strongest, most durable metals in the world.

Is platinum similar to white gold?
Only in color. To make white gold, yellow gold is alloyed with copper and silver and with small amounts of nickel and zinc to create a white look. Therefore, it doesn't have the same purity, strength, durability, or the unique natural white luster of platinum. White gold often has a faint yellow tinge. Another difference lies in weight. Platinum weighs 60% more than 14k gold -- a pretty big difference!

How do I care for platinum jewelry?
Treat it with the same respect you afford other fine jewelry. You can use a pre-packed jewelry cleaner or take your pieces in and have your jeweler clean it. Store pieces with care, separating them with soft cloth.

Can I wear platinum with gold jewelry?
Yes. Many platinum designs combine karat gold. The color combination is beautiful and adds variety to your jewelry wardrobe.

What is "the platinum standard"?
The platinum standard is based on parts per thousand, where 1000 parts = 100%. All platinum alloys are derived from this standard. The two most common platinum alloys:

95% Platinum: This alloy is 950 parts per 1000 and 50 parts other metals. Common quality marks are: Platinum, Plat, Pt, Pt950, 950Pt, 950Plat and Plat950.

90% Platinum: This alloy is 900 parts per 1000 and 100 parts other metals. Common quality marks are: 900Pt, Pt900, and 900Plat.

Why is platinum so expensive?
The best always costs more and, in this case, it's well worth it. Platinum is more pure than gold or silver. It also 30 times more rare than gold, more precious and heavier.

Does platinum scratch?
Like all precious metals platinum can scratch, though its properties offers protection. Unlike most precious metals, platinum loses hardly any metal when scratched. Instead, platinum displaces, or separates and "gives way" for the scratch. Over time, a natural patina develops, a matte luster, giving it a desirable and distinctive look.

Is it difficult to size platinum rings?
Like other metals, platinum can be sized and adjusted by a qualified jeweler.

What other metals are related to platinum?
Six metals make up the platinum group metals family: platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, palladium, iridium and osmium.

Platinum Facts: Flexible: Just one gram can produce fine wire more than a mile long.
Impervious: It is used to make most types of catalytic converters in cars nationwide.
Rare: It takes ten tons of ore and eight weeks to produce a single ounce.
Dense: It is more resistant to wear and tear than gold or silver.
Heavy: A six-inch cube weighs 165 lbs.
Versatile: It is used in medicine and industry for its catalytic, physical and hypoallergenic properties.

7) Message for Men
The fundamental truth is that men and women do think differently. This is a good thing.

Buying an extravagant piece of fine jewelry for your loved one is the most generous and romantic gesture you can make. Just to think of it makes my knees weak.

But it must be so scary. What if she doesn’t like it? What if she doesn’t wear it? Worse, what if she says she likes it, but you can see in her eyes she really doesn’t?

Here are a few simple facts. Most women, when asked, say no one can pick jewelry out for them. They, and only they, know what looks right. It’s like instinct. It’s a woman thing.

First, you can get some clues by carefully observing the jewelry she already regularly wears. Is it yellow or white? Is it bold or delicate? Does it include diamonds or precious stones? Does she wear pearls?

Then, do yourself a favor, let her browse through this web site and select her favorites. Have her create a Wish List. If you’re in the area, visit or stores and let her try on a few things. Let her find something she really loves. She’ll love you for it, and she’ll wear it forever.