| Choosing a diamond is a very personal thing, | | | | are colored diamonds. White diamonds are |
| which reflects upon an individual's taste and | | | | "classical", while coloured diamonds are "unique". |
| personality. When choosing a diamond it is | | | | Colorless diamonds are graded D and are very |
| important to understand what makes a quality | | | | rare. The color of a diamond can affect the |
| diamond to make sure that you get value for | | | | setting in engagement rings. |
| your money. Choosing a diamond bracelet can be | | | | Carat refers to the weight of the diamond and |
| fun and exciting. But knowing what to look for | | | | not necessarily, the size of it, as is commonly |
| and place value on makes for a sound investment. | | | | thought. Therefore the larger the diamond, the |
| Choosing a diamond is as important as learning | | | | more expensive it will be. Carat is derived from |
| how to buy a diamond. While choosing a diamond | | | | the word carob which is a bean growing in the |
| you should consider these factors shape, cut and | | | | region around the Mediterranean sea. The |
| clarity. | | | | measure of a diamond in old times was thus |
| Clarity and color should be looked at carefully, and | | | | taken to be one carob or one carat when it used |
| time taken when a choice is made. Inclusions and | | | | to weigh the same as the carob bean. |
| blemishes are very common and add to the | | | | Larger diamonds are rarer than smaller diamonds, |
| character of each diamond. Though rare, flawless | | | | and this rarity means that the price per carat |
| diamonds are the most prized.Major inclusions can | | | | increases with carat weight. Therefore, a 2 carat |
| interfere with the path of light that travels | | | | diamond will be more than double the cost of an |
| through a diamond, diminishing its brilliance and | | | | equal quality 1 carat diamond. Larger diamonds of |
| sparkle, and therefore its value. | | | | larger carats are rare and valuable. |
| Cut is the single most important indicator of a | | | | Diamond color looks different in different lighting, |
| truly beautiful stone. The cut refers to a | | | | and you may find you can't tell color differences |
| diamond's ability to reflect light; a well-cut diamond | | | | at all in one type of lighting, but in another type of |
| enables the light that enters it to perfectly bounce | | | | lighting the color differences are very apparent. |
| back out, thus giving the stone its brilliance. Shape | | | | Ask whether you will be allowed an exchange or |
| is the overall outer appearance of a diamond. The | | | | a cash refund, if this is of concern to you. Check |
| cut can be graded on a number scale from 1+ | | | | with the jeweler or an online merchant before |
| (Excellent) to 8 (Irregular). For simplicity sake, if | | | | buying. |
| the diamond doesn't sparkle in the light, it is not | | | | Shape determines the amount of fire and brilliance |
| well cut. The cut is dependent on the skill of the | | | | a stone will have, and no stone can have it all. So |
| artisan. He or she determines how to handle the | | | | gem specialists must often choose one or the |
| natural qualities to best enhance a diamond, and | | | | other. Shapes such as hearts or diamonds are |
| will keep water on the blade while cutting to | | | | also used particularly in gemstones. Almost |
| improve performance of the blade and to keep | | | | anything is possible. Do your research carefully, |
| from overheating. | | | | and remember to get that guarantee. |
| Colorless diamonds are highly-valued, but so too | | | | |