Common Mistakes to Avoid

We've heard the horror stories...too many unfortunately. Read on so you'll be equipped when you're in the market for an engagement ring.

1)Deal with a Diamond Specialist.
Too many jewellery stores are operated by 'clerks' with little or no formal training which leads to a lot of false information being given out. At Engage, all our consultants are certified diamontologists with at least 5 years of hands-on experience crafting jewellery.

2)Buy your diamond loose.
Too many things can be ‘hidden’ if the diamond is already set. The true colour of the diamond is difficult to see because the diamond will reflect the colour of the prongs that it’s set in. Clarity is difficult to evaluate because some of the diamond’s flaws can be hidden under a claw.

3)View your diamond under a microscope.
You may encounter a jeweller's loupe but this tool should be reserved for jewellers only. It takes experience to learn how to use it properly. A gem microscope with a magnification power of at least 10X will give you a true view of your diamond's clarity.

4)Never buy from a store that grades their own diamonds.
You’d be surprised how many ‘reputable’ jewellery stores do this. All our engagement rings come with a minimum of 2 independent professional opinions on your center diamond. Grading your own stones is the equivalent of writing your own report card.

5)Look for a diamond with proper certification.
Be wary of diamonds certifieded by ‘Joe’s Laboratory’. A proper diamond will always be accompanied with proper certification. Stick with reputable labs such as GIA or AGS. These labs also do a thorough job of ensuring that a diamond has no artificial enhancements of any kind.

6)Make sure the jeweller has a conflict-diamond policy.
Our Conflict-free Guarantee is written at the bottom of all our invoices. Who can live with the thought that a human life may have been harmed in the process of mining your diamond?

7)Work with a direct diamond importer.
Working with someone who buys direct from the world market translates to better value for you. No need for you to pay for all the middlemen inbetween.

8)Be comfortable with the place you buy your ring.
Remember, you’ll likely bring your fiancée to the place you purchase your engagement ring for regular cleanings, sizings (if they offer that). You’d want her to feel that you went a respectable establishment and not somewhere sketchy.

9)Appraisal are for insurance…not a sales tool.
Jewellery stores often have their finished goods pre-appraised. That in itself is not an issue. It becomes an issue however when they use the ‘appraisal value’ as the sales price. (Appraised Value is always inflated. Commonly by over 100% above the actual sale price.) Beware of those ‘50% OFF’ deals. It’s almost always based on the ‘appraised’ price. When’s the last time you got 50% off a car?

10)Make sure your engagement ring comes with a comprehensive warranty.
What happens if you damaged your ring? What if her finger size changes? We’ll even restore the original polish of your ring if it goes dull over time.

11)Go with your gut.
Trust yourself. Don’t let anyone ‘SELL’ you or pressure you to buy now. Every diamond is at least a billion years old. An extra week or two isn’t going to age it.