Julie Davis shows off just a few of the wedding rings Murray's Jewelry in Woodhaven has to offer.
Photo by E.L. Conley
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WOODHAVEN— There will be approximately 2.5 million weddings in the United States this year and many couples will be searching for the perfect diamond ring.
Julie Davis, assistant manager at Murray's Jewelry in Woodhaven, has some advice for those out shopping for that special ring. Murray's Jewelry is the largest free-standing jewelry store in southeastern Michigan and even has a special section just for wedding, anniversary and engagement rings.
"It can be a little overwhelming when you come in here for the first time," Davis said. "You have to know a few things coming in to help make it an enjoyable and rewarding experience."
Men should always remember to know their partner's ring size.
"You would be surprised at how many gentlemen come in without knowing the ring size," Davis said. "We can make a ring and change the size later, but all you need to do is borrow a ring from her jewelry box that you know she's worn and we have the size."
Cost is another factor. A big factor for most.
"Know what you want to spend," Davis said. "We have rings that range in price from $399 to over $30,000. We have hundreds of choices here, so know your price range and that can narrow down the choices."
Four factors, known as the "4 Cs," determine the value of a diamond. They are:
•†Cut: The cut is designed to yield the maximum amount of light to reflect back. This reflection, known as brilliance, is an important factor in evaluating the quality of a diamond. A poorly cut diamond will appear dull.
•†Color: Diamonds come in every color of the spectrum, but the most popular gems are white. Stones are graded by color and given designations depending on how far they deviate from the purest white. Colorless stones are graded D and color grading descends through the alphabet, with each letter designating the yellower tint.
The best way to see the true color of a diamond is by looking at it against a pure white surface.
•†Clarity: A diamond's clarity is affected by any external irregularities and internal imperfections created by nature when the diamond was formed. Imperfections or "nature's birthmarks" such as spots, bubbles or lines are called inclusions.
Although these marks make each stone unique, the fewer the inclusions, the more valuable the stone.
"I would say that color and clarity are the top two," Davis said. "The clarity is how clean the diamond is. And you can tweak the price by increasing the clarity and decreasing the color."
•†Carat: This word for the measurement of a diamond's weight is derived from the carob beans that were used to balance scales at bazaars in ancient times. Because large diamonds are rare, they generally have a greater value per carat.
•†Confidence: Jewelry industry experts add a fifth C, confidence in one's professional jeweler. Be sure the jeweler is a member of a professional trade association, such as Jewelers of America. JA requires high ethical standards of its members and provides them with ongoing education.
Source: Jewelry Information Center. Scott Held contributed to this report.
