Monique Simpson, Staff Reporter

Ahhh! There it is, nestled in its classic black velvet box, each facet reflecting in a sparkling display that only a diamond can produce.

Weeks before, Leonard Manning, 27, stepped into a jewellery store to customise the engagement ring he would use to bedazzle his sweetheart.

"I was introduced to the idea of personalising the engagement ring by a friend of mine. I liked the idea because the act of designing a ring for my fiancee just makes it much more special ... kind of like putting your heart into it.

Another major plus was that the jeweller was able to work with my budget," Manning told Saturday Life.

Hugh Stone also got his wedding rings customised. "When you are getting married you do it only once, so everything has to be unique - even the cake." Stone said that the styles of store-bought rings were monotonous and lacklustre.

"You don't want people to be saying, 'Oh I've seen that before,' and the only way I could guarantee the uniqueness of my ring was to have it designed," he said.

Have an idea

Curtis Duhaney of Jewello Ltd at Portmore Mall in St Catherine advises customers to first have an idea of what they want.

"I try to determine what people really love before we even discuss the price, because it doesn't make sense for them to spend money on something they don't like," he said.

"If they are not sure what they want, we can give them catalogues and make suggestions," added Duhaney. And that's exactly what Stone did.

After settling on a design, the price is determined based on the materials used and what customers are able to afford.

"A reasonable engagement ring can start at $7,000, while the cost of a wedding ring (including the cost of the diamonds) can start at $20,000," the jeweller said.

Most people go for gold for wedding and engagement rings, which are expected to have a lifetime warranty. His pick is 14K gold.

"It is more resistant to the elements and it is harder to break than, say, a 10K because it is pliable, yet strong. It is also more affordable.

A computer-generated ring model produced by jeweller Curtis Duhaney. - Contributed

"The 14K doesn't tarnish easily, has a higher content of gold and is, therefore, more valuable," he explained.

Diamonds still catch the eyes of women while some gents opt for the more budget-friendly cubic zirconia, a synthetic material. Although it isn't glass, it is one of the closest replicas of the diamond. Done to perfection, only the skilled eye will be able to tell the difference.

For Manning's fiancee, diamonds are forever and he did not want to disappoint. "Diamonds ... got to be diamonds," Stone agreed.

When design, materials and cost are settled, Duhaney gets to work in his computer lab in a programme called CAD-CAM (computer-assisted design-computer-assisted manufacturing). From there he creates a wax model so that any final changes can be done. The process - starting when the client first steps in and ending when he or she happily struts out the door, ring in hand - takes about two weeks.

Snap! Now it's time to get the party of a lifetime started.

monique.murray@gleanerjm.com

Did you know?

The tradition of wearing wedding and engagement rings on the middle finger of the left hand dates back to a belief that there was a vein, called the vena amoris, or vein of love, running directly from that finger to the heart.

Source: http://www.myuniversalfacts.com/2005/09/why-wedding-ring-is-worn-on-third.html

Knowledge gems

Things to consider when designing a ring:

Budget: Set aside an amount you are comfortable spending on your ring. Jewellers should be able to offer you a payment plan. Don't be afraid to negotiate.

What type of metal to use:

There are quite a number of options in this department. There is the classic gold in 24,18, 14 and 10 carats. The higher the carat, the more gold (and fewer alloys) in the metal. However, that might not be a good idea because the higher the gold content, the softer the metal will be.

Gold is also available in various colours - yellow, red or rose or white (which looks silver). There is also titanium, the hardest metal, platinum (pricey but worth it because it's harder but just as beautiful). Other options are tungsten (also a very durable and virtually scratch-resistant metal), silver and, yes, stainless steel.

Stones: The practice of using diamonds in wedding bands is not carved in stone. You might not want to use diamonds alone (or at all) but other stones of your choice such as birthstones, which are usually more affordable.

If you have your heart set on them, familiarise yourself with the four Cs: cut, colour, clarity and carat.

Clarity: This refers to the number of inclusions in a diamond. Inclusions are traces of non-crystallised carbon (the element from which diamonds are formed) not visible to the naked eye. The larger or more numerous these are in the diamond, the less valuable it is.

Colour: Diamonds, to the untrained eye, look colourless but, in fact, they might have subtle yellow or brownish tints, which also help to determine the value. Colours are graded in letters: D being the whitest and therefore most valuable and SZ having more tint but is less valuable. However, there are diamonds that have other colours such as bright yellow, pink, red, blue and green. These are rare and, as you can imagine, quite expensive.

Carat: This refers to the weight of the diamond. Larger diamonds will weigh and cost more per carat than smaller ones. Don't be fooled into thinking that a one-carat diamond will cost the same as two half-carat ones.

Cut: A diamond in the rough looks like a block of transparent substance. To get it's brilliance, a master craftsman is needed. His expert cuts determine its sparkle. There are various shapes such as the brilliant (round), oval, pear, or marquise (almond-shaped), baguette and princess (square) cuts.

The design: Limited only by our imagination or budget.

For great jewellery info, check out the resource site, http://gilletts.com.au/information.php