| Shopping for an engagement ring for their loved | | | | being colorless and Z referring to diamonds with |
| ones is a major expense which most people are | | | | pale yellow color. Diamonds in the color range of F |
| more than happy to bear. However, an | | | | to I are most common while there are a few |
| engagement involves various other expenses as | | | | diamonds that are rated above Z in the color |
| well and buying an engagement ring encrusted | | | | range. Such diamonds are very rare and |
| with diamonds can be an expensive proposition | | | | expensive and are called fancy colored diamonds. |
| for many. It is, however, possible to find an | | | | Carat: The carat rating of a diamond refers |
| impressive engagement ring if you're armed with | | | | to its weight with one carat being equal to 200 |
| a few basic facts about diamond engagement | | | | milligrams. This method of representing the weight |
| rings. | | | | of a diamond is quite old and originally was |
| Everyone has heard about the 4Cs of diamonds: | | | | intended to measure the weight of a diamond vis |
| the holy grail of the diamond world. For the | | | | a vis that of the seed of a carob. |
| uninitiated, the 4 Cs refer to color, carat, clarity | | | | Clarity: Loose Diamonds occur naturally in |
| and cut. These factors can be quite perplexing for | | | | nature and therefore are not always free of |
| most people but a brief understanding of them is | | | | deformities or flaws. In fact it is very rare to |
| necessary to make an informed purchase. The | | | | come across a diamond that is completely free of |
| following sections will explain these terms in | | | | any flaws. The clarity rating of a diamond is used |
| layman's terms to give you a general idea about | | | | to rate the stone on the basis of its inherent |
| them and help you find the perfect engagement | | | | flaws. The scale used for such a rating starts with |
| rings. | | | | FL, which refers to a completely flawless stone, |
| Color: Loose Diamonds are normally available | | | | and terminates in I3 which means that the |
| in a host of colors ranging around pale yellow. This | | | | diamond is seriously flawed. The commonly found |
| range of colors is referred to as the normal color | | | | diamonds that are easily available in the market |
| range of diamonds. Diamonds are also available in | | | | are likely to have a clarity rating of SI1 or SI2, |
| other colors such as brown or dark yellow, but | | | | which means slightly included. There are diamonds |
| diamonds with these colors are very rare and | | | | available which have such clarity ratings such as |
| hence extremely expensive. There are also | | | | IF, which means internally flawless, but these |
| diamonds that appear to be completely devoid of | | | | stones are unlikely to fit into the budget of the |
| any colors and appear as bright white in color to | | | | average buyer |
| an observer. Such diamonds are of the highest | | | | Cut: An uncut and unpolished diamond is quite |
| purity. The complete range of colors found in | | | | ordinary in its appearance. |
| diamonds is specified on a scale of D to Z with D | | | | |