Shopping for an engagement ring can be difficult. Trying to find a style of engagement ring that she’ll love that also fits within your budget is no small task. So, if you’re looking for some top engagement ring ideas in the Lake Charles Louisiana area, Melina Jewelry is here to help.

Melina Jewelry is an online Jeweller that specializes in natural diamond, lab diamond and moissanite engagement rings. Melina Jewelry carries a large choice of beautiful engagement rings and can help you find that ‘perfect’ ring for your future bride. Melina Jewelry ships all of their engagement rings using fast and free FedEx shipping. Plus, they give a 30 day money-back guarantee on their rings and always treat their customers with respect and great care. Providing great customer service, which is so rare these days, will show you why Melina Jewelry is growing quickly to become a trusted online jewelry and engagement ring store for ring shoppers across the United States and Canada.

Here are some ideas for you, in terms of the kinds of engagement rings that would make an impressive statement to your bride-to-be.

If you are looking for the classic choice in engagement rings, then natural diamond engagement rings are the way to go when it comes to marriage proposals. Natural diamond engagement rings are timeless and beautiful. They always exude an aura of class and sophistication. A natural diamond engagement ring truly impresses like no other ring, due to their mystique and long history. Even though diamond engagement rings are usually more expensive, there are ways with which you can buy a diamond ring that captivates and dazzles, and still staying within your budge

One option is by choosing a diamond engagement ring that has a center diamond that is a slightly smaller than the usual, standard 1 carat diamond. Doing so will cause the price to drop quite a bit but the diamond will still be large enough to look fantastic. The normal 1 carat diamond that is used in many engagement rings will be approximately 6.5 mm in diameter (this is for round cut diamonds). So, if you pick a smaller diamond than this, 5.5 or 6 mm, the diamond’s price will go down in a noticeable way. At these sizes, just under 6.5mm or 1 carat, the diamond will still look pretty big. Also, if you want to have the engagement ring’s diamond to look even larger, all you have to do is get an engagement ring that has a diamond halo around the center diamond. A halo will not only make the center diamond look bigger, but you will also get a lot more sparkle as well.

Here are some diamond engagement rings that Melina Jewelry carries:

If you need some help in knowing what to look for in a diamond, and to also know the questions that you should ask a jeweller when it comes to selecting a diamond, here are some terms that you should know. 

This is taken from the Melina Jewelry Website:

How to Choose a Diamond

A natural diamond center stone is the safest yet most expensive option. Choosing the right diamond can be difficult as there are several diamond attributes that affect a diamond’s price beyond the carat size. We ll look at the main diamond attributes now:

Carat

The carat weight of a diamond is the metric that indicates diamond weight. One metric carat is defined as 200 mg. Each carat is also subdivided into 100 points. This allows jewellers to precisely measure a diamond’s weight down to the hundredth decimal place. Many jewellers refer to the weight of diamonds that are below one carat by stating points alone. For example, if a jeweller says that a diamond is a twenty-five pointer, then the diamond weighs 0.25 carats. Not surprisingly, the larger the carat weight, the more expensive the diamond will be. Most engagement rings that have diamond center stones will be between 0.60 and 1.75 carats.

Color

Each diamond is given a color in a rating system that ranges from D to Z. A D color is the most white while the further down the letter scale you go, the more colored and darker the diamond gets.

The colors D, E and F are usually considered the most white diamonds, while G and H are often chosen by people who still want close to a purer white but wish to pay less for the diamond. While often overlooked, colors I, J and K can get you a beautiful diamond that is very close to being a true white and cost much less, since you may have a hard time seeing any color when looking at it with an untrained eye. These lower color diamonds can be great, especially if you buy a yellow gold band which helps mask any yellow or color that may slightly tint the diamond.

Once you find some photos of engagement rings that you like, you can start approaching jewellers to start getting some idea of what it will cost to make an engagement ring like that. Armed with your budget range and the photos of engagement rings styles that you like, this will help a jeweller get you a price quote and to give you an estimate on how long it will take to make the ring.

Clarity

Diamond clarity refers to the absence of inclusions and blemishes. As diamonds are being formed, they undergo tremendous heat and pressure that can cause flaws inside and on the surface of the diamond. Inclusions refer to flaws that appear within the diamond while blemishes are those that are found on the surface of the diamond.

Diamonds are rated on clarity on a scale that goes from Flawless (no inclusions or blemishes) all the way to Included (much more noticeable inclusions and blemishes).

The scale, according to the GIA website is:

Flawless (FL) No inclusions and no blemishes visible under 10x magnification

Internally Flawless (IF) No inclusions visible under 10x magnification

Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1 and VVS2) Inclusions so slight they are difficult for a skilled grader to see under 10x magnification

Very Slightly Included (VS1 and VS2) Inclusions are observed with effort under 10x magnification, but can be characterized as minor

Slightly Included (SI1 and SI2) Inclusions are noticeable under 10x magnification

Included (I1, I2, and I3) Inclusions are obvious under 10x magnification which may affect transparency and brilliance

The price of a diamond is much higher as you go up the scale into the VS, VVS, IF and FL ranges, while the price can be lower (all other things considered) as you head down to the SI and I end of the scale.

Cut

The cut of a diamond is often thought to be what the main shape of the diamond is (round, oval, cushion, etc.) but it actually refers to the way the diamond interacts with light. The proportion, symmetry and polish of a diamond will either enhance or detract from the way light interacts with a diamond and this ultimately affects its value.

What is a Typical Diamond That People Choose

When most people who know diamonds go out to buy one, they usually ask for a diamond that has F color and is also of VS clarity. These two attributes are most common when clients chat with us regarding diamonds that they are interested in.

When choosing a natural diamond engagement ring, you can save some money by lowering the purchase price by selecting a diamond that has a slightly less white color, like a G color, and choosing a clarity of SI instead of VS. Just these two small changes could save you lots of money.

Lab Grown Diamond Engagement Rings

Lab Diamonds are very popular right now. In addition to being nearly identical to actual, natural mined diamonds from the Earth, they are much less expensive and better for the environment. While people may be hesitant to buy a lab diamond, thinking that they are somehow inferior to natural diamonds, or are fake diamonds, this is not the case. Lab grown diamonds cannot be differentiated from natural diamonds, even by expert gemologists. You need a special diamond tester to be able to tell a natural diamond and a lab diamond apart.

But, because these are made in a lab, where machines recreate the natural processes by which diamonds are formed deep in the depths of the Earth, only these machines greatly speed up the process. Not only are lab grown diamonds just as sparklingly beautiful as natural diamonds, as well as being more affordable (you can get a much bigger lab diamond for the same price as a smaller natural diamond, so more bang for your buck), but these lab diamonds are also environmentally and socially better. No blood diamonds here.

Lab grown diamonds are valued and priced using the same method as natural diamonds (Carat, Cut, Color, Clarity. See above). When you are choosing a lab diamond engagement ring, you should try to find the best balance between carat size, color and clarity in order to maximize the perfect diamond that will fit within your budget. You can always contact Melina Jewelry to find out more..

Here are some of our Lab Grown Diamond Engagement Rings:

Moissanite Engagement Rings

Moissanite engagement rings have also been popular alternatives to diamond engagement rings. This has been the case for several years now. This is due to their much lower sales price and the fact that they have tremendous natural sparkle and beauty. Moissanites are almost as hard and tough as real diamonds (rating 9.5 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness, compared to 10 for diamonds), meaning that they will definitely last years even with daily wear and abuse.

Also, and perhaps more surprisingly, moissanites actually have more sparkle than diamonds. Moissanite have more ‘Fire’ compared to diamonds which make them very sparkly and showy. While diamonds have a white-color and more subdued flashes of brilliance, moissanites have a more colorful fire and flash often. For some people, this is a bit of a negative, while for others they love how sparkly their moissanite engagement rings are.

Here are a few of our moissanite engagement rings:

Buying Your Engagement Ring

We hope that the information and suggestions found in this article has helped you in better knowing your options when it comes to buying an engagement ring. With so much choice and so many options, and with so many terms that may not be obvious to everyone, it is important to have as much information to help you when you are making such an important and expensive purchase.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. We would be happy to answer any questions that you may have.