Congratulations on Preparing for a Big Step in Life

If you’ve stumbled upon this article and don’t usually pay attention to diamonds, congratulations! You might be preparing for an important milestone in your life. Whether buying a diamond ring is essential for a proposal is up to each individual, but since you’re researching diamonds, chances are you’re planning to purchase an engagement ring to propose to your significant other and make a promise for the future.

The question is: how do you get started? Buying a diamond can easily cost tens of thousands of HKD—or even more.

For example, a 1-carat diamond in the first half of 2022 costs about HKD 50,000 for an entry-level option. Most people purchasing diamonds have little to no experience, and the overwhelming amount of conflicting information out there makes it easy to feel lost. Nobody wants to make a mistake for such an important moment in their life. Most importantly, this engagement ring is for your beloved, and we all want to give them the best we can.

Over the years, friends from different platforms have reached out to me with questions about diamonds. First, I want to thank you for trusting my advice. Knowing that you’ve found a diamond you love and successfully proposed brings me great satisfaction. After all, even a small act of sharing can bring joy to others in these challenging times—it’s a privilege to be part of your happiness.

In this article, I’ve compiled my insights from years of diamond purchasing. I hope these tips will give you a clear direction, whether you’re aiming for a 1-carat diamond or considering other sizes, to find the perfect diamond for your needs.

Set a Budget: Diamond Value is Infinite

Diamonds are valuable, and the price of a diamond with the same weight (Carat) can vary greatly depending on quality. For example, the price of a 1-carat diamond can range from HKD 20,000 to over HKD 100,000 based on its quality. Without a defined budget, it’s easy to feel lost with such a wide price range. Trying to maximize all quality aspects will only result in unrealistic expenses. Setting a budget helps you allocate resources effectively, focusing on the most important qualities. Striking a balance between price and quality is the key strategy.

Prioritize Visible Qualities: Focus on Diamond Size and Color

Size matters—not because you need a massive diamond for a proposal, but because size is the most noticeable and impactful quality. Avoid sacrificing size to achieve "flawless" clarity or "no fluorescence," which are qualities that are often undetectable to the naked eye.

The color of a diamond is almost as important as its size. D-F color grades are popular because they are considered colorless, but they are priced higher. If your budget is limited, G color is a good alternative. My recommendation is to avoid H or lower grades for engagement diamonds. Yellowish tones in lower grades are easily noticeable and can detract from the overall appearance.

For Sparkle, Choose a 3EX Cut Grade

To ensure your diamond sparkles, the simplest and most effective approach is to check that the cut, polish, and symmetry grades are all "Excellent" (3EX). This guarantees a certain level of brilliance. While further analysis of cutting angles can provide more insights, this can complicate the process without significantly improving outcomes. The most efficient method is to select a 3EX diamond and evaluate its sparkle in person.

Fluorescence is Underrated—Feel Free to Choose It

There’s a common misconception that fluorescence is undesirable in diamonds. However, in most cases, fluorescence has little impact on a diamond’s appearance because it only manifests under UV light, which is rarely encountered in daily life. Diamonds with fluorescence are often priced lower than their non-fluorescent counterparts. As long as you avoid "milky" diamonds, diamonds with fluorescence can be a great deal. Consider diamonds with "Faint" or "Medium" fluorescence in addition to "None." It’s worth noting that only blue fluorescence should be considered, as yellow or green fluorescence can negatively affect appearance.

Clarity: Aim for "Good Enough" and Don’t Overpay

Natural diamonds often contain inclusions, and flawless diamonds are extremely rare and expensive. Pursuing clarity at all costs will dilute your budget for size and color. Which clarity grade offers the best value? The general rule is that if inclusions are not visible to the naked eye (without magnification), the diamond is a good choice. Avoid inclusions that compromise the diamond’s structure, such as cavities, etch channels, chips, or knots.

SI clarity diamonds often offer the best value, with some SI diamonds rivaling VS clarity diamonds—but these are harder to find. If your budget allows, consider VS2 or VS1. Higher grades like VVS or flawless diamonds are much more expensive and often unnecessary. If budget is a concern, allocate resources to size or color instead of clarity.

I hope these tips help you in your search for the perfect engagement diamond. You can also explore the Antonelli Diamond Collection, where I’ve carefully selected diamonds from around the world to serve as stunning engagement rings. Additionally, you can use our Diamond Pricing and Search Service to get more insights into diamond prices. For more information, feel free to explore other resources on our website about diamonds and craftsmanship.