RESEARCH conducted by online engagement ring specialist Brillian, shows that 70% of women are waiting for their man to make the big gesture and pop the question.  To help men through the process of choosing and buying a ring, Brillian has created a website just for them (www.brillian-engagementrings.co.uk), as well as these top tips:

1. Diamonds are forever because they are indestructible – The word ‘diamond’ comes from the Greek ‘adamas’ which literally means indestructible. It’s the only gem known to man that is made entirely from one element – carbon – and is the hardest natural material on earth. It is also the oldest – the youngest diamond is 45 million years old.

2. The four Cs – colour – Diamonds are graded by their lack of colour using an alphabetical system which starts at D (colourless and extremely rare) all the way through to Z (tinted and relatively common). A very rare pink diamond recently sold for £29m.

3. The four Cs – cut – The cut of a diamond is the only element of this natural product which can be affected by man. A skilled diamond cutter is able to turn the raw diamond into a stunning gem by carefully working on its shape, style, proportions, symmetry and polish. It’s the cut that gives the diamond its sparkle or ‘brilliance’ and fire.

4. The four Cs – clarity – Clarity refers to the number, position and size of any naturally occurring flaws within the diamond and is key to its market value. The fewer and less obvious the inclusions, the more valuable the diamond. When considering investing, bear in mind that inclusions should not be visible to the naked eye.

5. The four Cs  - carat – Diamonds are weighed in carats, which is equal to 0.2g. This is divided into 100 points meaning a 25 point diamond is equal to 1/4 carat. The term carat is derived from carob seeds that were originally used to measure the weight of diamonds.

6. How do you know the seller is telling the truth? – Make sure the diamonds you are buying are certified by one of the big diamond laboratories, such as the International Gemmological Institute (IGI), the Gemmological Institute of America (GIA) or the Antwerp Gemmological Institute (AGI). Each will issue a certificate for every diamond, which guarantees the diamond you’ve purchased is the weight, quality and type that as advertised.