Shopping for trio ring sets can be overwhelming at first. What's the difference between a princess cut and a baguette cut? What is a carat, and what difference does it make?
We're here to help you make sense of the terms and options you'll come across when shopping for wedding ring sets.
Let's start with the 4 C's of diamond classification. When buying a diamond, it's important to know the 4 C's of diamond classification: cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. Collectively, the 4 C's tell you the value of a diamond.
CUT
Many people consider cut to be the most important of the 4 C's. The cut of each diamond is intended to maximize its sparkle and visual impact.
The cut may also refer to the number of facets, or flat surfaces, a diamond has. Keep in mind that cut is different than shape.
COLOR
The most classic and valuable type of diamond is colorless. Colored diamonds, which come in just about every color from blue to pink to orange, contain small amounts of impurities. The more colorless a diamond, the purer and more expensive it is.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) grades diamonds on a color scale from D (colorless) to Z. Diamonds become more yellow as they approach the bottom of the scale.
CARAT
A common misconception is the carat describes the size of a diamond. In fact, it measures a diamond's weight. A carat is equal to 200 milligrams, and typically jewelry is measured in 1/4 carat increments.
The higher the carats, the higher the cost. This is especially true of single stones, because large diamonds are rare.
CLARITY
A diamond is more valuable the more perfect it is. Being natural gemstones, diamonds can have a range of internal and external irregularities that interfere with light passing through the stone. The GIA grades clarity on a scale that ranges from flawless (FL or IF) to imperfect (I).
If you'd like to know more, My Trio Rings has created an illustrated guide to the 4 C's.
SHAPE
Popular diamond shapes include round, princess, and baguette. Here are some examples, with descriptions from our Diamond Cut Shapes page:
Trio Ring Sets with Round Diamond Cuts
The round brilliant is the most popular and common diamond shape. It is mathematically designed to provide maximum scintillation, beauty and 'fire' in the diamond. It has 58 facets, and follows the natural shape of rough diamond crystals.
Trio Ring Sets with Princess Diamond Cuts
A princess cut diamond is shaped like an upside-down pyramid, with a square base. The shape creates a bigger top facet and accentuates the natural 'fire' of a diamond. It has grown in popularity recently as an alternative to the traditional round brilliant cut.
Trio Ring Sets with Baguette Diamond Cuts
The baguette shape, named after the French bread, has a long rectangular shape. The baguette shape accentuates the diamond's natural luster and is well suited to accompany other different shaped diamonds.
It is rarely made in larger sizes, but works well to complement other bigger diamonds used in a design.
One advantage of buying wedding ring sets is that you don't have to choose between diamond cuts. You can choose a set that includes rings with two different cuts!
My Trio Rings offers wedding ring sets to suit any budget. In our Shop section, search by price range in the left sidebar on to find the perfect one for you!
4 C's images courtesy of GIA