| Learning how to choose the diamonds is essential | | | | The Clarity |
| so that you will get the superb diamond | | | | A diamond’s clarity scoring is a measure of |
| engagement ring for your money. People who are | | | | the number of blemishes and inclusions (also |
| looking for diamond engagement rings should start | | | | known as flaws) that a diamond has. Although, |
| with the Four C's of diamonds since these are the | | | | the clarity of the diamond does not greatly |
| benchmarks on how diamonds are graded and | | | | influence/affect its brilliance, the greater the |
| valued. | | | | blemishes or inclusions a diamond has, the poorer |
| The Four C’s of the diamond industry are the | | | | is its value. |
| Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat of the diamond. | | | | However, a diamond that has minimal inclusions is |
| When purchasing a diamond engagement ring, it is | | | | still a beautiful diamond if the inclusions cannot be |
| now a common practice to choose the diamond | | | | seen by the unaided eye. Remember that there is |
| first before selecting the base and the settings | | | | no such thing as a perfect diamond and that most |
| for the engagement ring band. | | | | loose diamonds in the market nowadays possess |
| The Cut | | | | inclusions or blemishes. As some jewelers point |
| The first C that you need to consider when | | | | out, the inclusions of diamonds is one way of |
| purchasing that important diamond for the | | | | identifying a diamond because the patterns that |
| engagement ring is the Cut. Many mistake cut for | | | | these inclusions form act as the diamond’s |
| the shape of the diamond which comes in | | | | fingerprint. |
| variations. Shapes of loose diamonds include | | | | When purchasing a diamond for an engagement |
| marquise, pear, heart, emerald, princess, cushion, | | | | ring, it is ok to choose one that has a few |
| and round brilliant. Among these shapes, the | | | | inclusions just as long as these are only visible |
| common choices are the princess and the round | | | | under magnification. |
| brilliant. However, as mentioned earlier, the shape | | | | The Color |
| of the diamond is not the criteria for grading the | | | | Colorless diamonds are scored using a letter scale |
| cut. | | | | which starts from a D rating (truly colorless) to a |
| The Cut of the diamond refers to the expertise | | | | Z rating (brownish). A top quality diamond is one |
| and skill involved in the actual cutting and polishing | | | | that is close to being colorless as possible. This |
| of the diamond. This also refers to the degree of | | | | means that it is graded within the D-F color |
| symmetry the diamond has in relation to its table | | | | bracket. |
| (the flat surface area of the diamond) and the | | | | When you choose a diamond within the D-F color |
| depth (the length from table to the tip). | | | | bracket, you should have it set on white gold or |
| Furthermore, a diamond’s cut is also valued | | | | white platinum to further enhance its colorless |
| on the number of angles and facets which can | | | | quality. |
| affect the brilliance and sparkle of the diamond. | | | | The Carat |
| A diamond with a excellent cut grading is one that | | | | The carat weight of the diamond is one of the |
| will be able to show an excellent light | | | | critical considerations in how a diamond is priced. |
| performance. Light performance refers to the | | | | Most diamonds that are used for engagement |
| way light ‘dances’, refracts and reflects | | | | rings average from .50 carat to 1.25 carat. |
| as it passes through all the facets of the diamond. | | | | However, there are people who desire their |
| Diamonds with symmetrical and well-angled facets | | | | diamond engagement rings to stand out and |
| will exhibit an excellent light performance. This | | | | therefore buy a stone with a higher carat weight. |
| performance of light will show the diamond’s | | | | You must remember that a high quality diamond |
| brilliance, fire, and sparkle (collectively known as | | | | does not necessarily have to be a larger stone. |
| “bling” or “the gaga factor”). | | | | The size of the diamond is not an assurance of |
| There are a number of scientific ways to | | | | its quality. The quality of the diamond for your |
| measure a diamond’s ‘bling’ or light | | | | engagement ring is rated by the combination of all |
| performance. Diamond traders are currently | | | | the factors that were discussed in this article. It is |
| administering a wide variety of visual scopes to | | | | up to you, as the buyer, to determine which of |
| know the brilliance and sparkle of the diamond. | | | | these grading criteria you are going to prioritize |
| Substandard cut diamonds are usually | | | | and base your buying decision. |
| unsymmetrical and can leak light which makes it | | | | No matter what diamond you choose with, as |
| appear duller than diamonds of high quality cut. | | | | long as you made an educated decision and used |
| If you are going for a diamond engagement ring | | | | the diamond wisdom given you, you will still end |
| with more “bling”, the round brilliant | | | | up with an attractive diamond engagement ring. |
| diamond is right for you. | | | | |