Diamond solitaire engagement rings remain the standard and most popular choice when getting engaged. So, men if you want to surprise that special someone you are unlikely to go wrong with one of these types of rings. However, there are several things you need to know before you buy.

The price of all diamonds (the major cost of any ring) is determined by the 4 Cs – carat, clarity, color and cut. Of these carat is the most important factor. The carat simply refers to the size of the diamond the bigger the diamond the more expensive the ring. It is just that simple.

The next important thing to look for is the clarity rating of the diamond. The lowest quality clarity rating is I3 which means you can see flaws in the diamond with the naked eye. The highest rating is FL which means no flaws are visible even under 10X magnification. For most practical purposes you will probably want to get a ring that falls into one of the four following clarity ratings: VS2, VS1, VVS2, VVS1.

The next thing you need to look at is the color of the diamond itself. The color spectrum goes from D (white or colorless) to Z (yellow). Rings rated D, E or F are considered to be colorless and hence are the most expensive. The next level down are G, H and I which are considered near colorless. If you want a regular or white diamond you should not buy anything lower than one rated as an I, with G and H rated diamonds being the most popular.

Once you have determined the other 3 factors it comes down to cut. By far the most popular cut for diamond solitaire engagement rings is the round brilliant cut. Keep in mind that the cut has nothing to do with the shape of the diamond itself. The cut determines where and how light enters and how it is reflected back. In this case it comes down to what you want you ring to look like. You want to buy a ring that you or more importantly she’ll love.

Related to cut is the shape of the diamond itself. Some of the more popular shapes are as follows: round, princess, emerald, asscher, marquise, oval, radiant, pear, heart and cushion. Which one you choose will come down to the style. If you are totally unsure, a round diamond is the safest choice since it is by far the most popular.

Finally, when choosing a ring you also have pick a metal for the actual ring itself. The standard options are 14K or 18K white or yellow gold or platinum. Most people choose gold since it is significantly cheaper than platinum, but again it all comes down to the look she wants.

So now that you know a bit more about what sort of things to look for in a diamond solitaire engagement ring please feel free to browse our pages. We have listings in all price ranges and many different locations. I am sure you will be able to find something that will make her say “Yes”!