CEO of WP Diamonds gives thoughts on Lucy Mecklenburgh's engagement ring and top tips for shopping for diamonds

Following news of Lucy Mecklenburgh and Ryan Thomas' engagement, Andrew Brown, CEO of WP Diamonds, gives his thoughts on the sparkler.

He says: "The diamond on Lucy's engagement finger is stunning. It looks to be a 4-carat, or thereabouts, fancy intense yellow radiant with trilliants on the sides. The retail value of a ring like this is also pretty impressive, approximately £60,000 to £70,000."

While we might not all be able to afford a ring like this, these expert tips from Andrew on how to shop for a diamond like a pro will help get the most out of your money:

*Only an expert can tell the difference between a D colour and a G colour stone (particularly set in a ring), but the price will vary by up to 50 per cent. Confidently purchase a G colour if you like the ring because that's the most important thing!

*It can pay to look for a stone that has very slight imperfections. There can be as much as a 75 per cent price difference between imperfect stones and a flawless diamond - so, this can mean thousands of pounds in savings.

*Price increases often happen on the half carat so always go up by 0.40 or 0.90 in order to maximize your size without significantly increasing cost, this is one of the best tricks in the business. Note though, that the closer you get to the half or full carat, the closer to the next size you will pay.

*Always pay attention to the surface area of a stone. A shallow, 2-carat diamond with a large surface area can look nearly half a carat larger than a stone of the same weight with a regular depth. This is because a diamond can hold its weight at the bottom, hidden beneath the setting. Just make sure the diamond doesn't look glassy.

*Round, brilliant cut diamonds are the most expensive shape. Consider an oval or cushion cut and increase the carat size.

*Opt for diamond fluorescence which is a term that most shoppers have never heard before and refers to the glow that a diamond gives off under UV light. Medium blue fluorescence in a diamond can be a good thing for your wallet (10-15 per cent savings!) but does not really detract from the look of the stone.

For further information and to see their dazzling collection, visit www.wpdiamonds.co.uk @wp_diamonds

Ring in picture, £1,160, www.gemmabywpd.com