As men, we aren’t ashamed to admit that the word ‘diamond’ makes us think about poker cards and baseball, and only then think of the burden of pleasing our loved one. Most men have two main aims when it comes to buying a diamond ring or jewelry item; the first is finding a relatively good deal, preferably not resulting in bankruptcy, and the second is not messing up when it comes to selecting an item, in other words, having it accepted smoothly by the girlfriend or wife.

As someone who was himself quite intimidated by diamonds not so long ago, I can say that after getting a few obstacles out of my way, and abandoning typical ‘manly’ stereotypes, diamonds can become quite intriguing and the process of diamond purchasing can become a task that a man can learn to master. I wish to share some of my acquired knowledge and tell you men readers how to succeed in both the romantic and consumer areas, at least when it comes to diamonds.

First of all, don’t try to bend the rules of the game. Don’t consider the option of buying diamond or gold substitutes and don’t go for something cheap with the excuse that it is a more ‘personal’ gift. This diamond must shine all the way to your wedding day, thus one shouldn’t avoid his diamond purchasing destiny.

If concepts that have to do with the special diamond attributes and shape features don’t really excite you, maybe the certification aspect of diamond purchasing is something you can grasp more firmly. Diamond grading reports and appraisals are important elements in executing a clever purchase. If you show interest in diamond certification then the diamond vendor would take you more seriously and would be less likely to try and fool you into spending a lot of money on a poor quality stone. If you learn (or even write a note which can be read later, while you are selecting a diamond) the common grading system of a diamond’s cut, color, clarity and acquire a basic understanding of the carat weight concept, then by reading the diamond quality report you will have a clue regarding the quality of a diamond.

After understanding basic simple diamond purchasing rules, you should find out what your loved one’s standards are ; what style of jewelry she normally wears? Does she like more classic or more modern items? Is she a dazzled by gold or is platinum her favorite precious metal? Would she go only with the popular round diamonds or is she into ‘alternative’ shapes?

Engagement Advice

If your girlfriend would prefer providing you with hints then having the risk that are involved in a 100% surprise engagement ring, then you should go with the flow, follow her lead and let her supply you with the proper knowledge that would eventually prevent future disappointment for both sides. If you don’t want to ruin the surprise you can still consult with family and female friends of your loved one, maybe they have further knowledge regarding her personal taste or maybe she even left them with some diamond ‘instructions’, just in case you would come to ask them for advice. If they don’t posses such precious knowledge they could still agree to ask her about her preference, without arousing any suspicion.

After putting all these efforts in and just before the big expense is underway, you should remember that although diamonds are inevitably pricy, and that the stand ards for quality diamonds are more or less similar worldwide, there is still a place for your personal opinion and consideration. After following the lead of experts, family, friends and even the loved one herself, it is still up to you to buy the item and you shouldn’t completely underestimate your ability to do so, especially after you have already obtained some diamond knowledge and visited some jewelry stores. No gift can come with a 100% guarantee that the receiver would adore it, and a diamond ring is no exception, thus your choice should also somehow rely on your opinion. This way, if your loved one would be truly overwhelmed by the ring, you would know you didn’t only buy her a ring like a robot, but also relied on your senses in order to obtain the perfect, once in a lifetime gift.