| If there is one time in your life when perfection is | | | | stone. A "flawless" diamond is the more rare and |
| necessary, it is the time you choose the diamond | | | | the most expensive diamond available for |
| to grace the hand of your wife to be. Learning | | | | purchase. The flawless diamond will have zero |
| about the diamond and other jewelry -- and what | | | | veins, cut, nicks or variances in color. The diamond |
| to look for during your search -- is the most | | | | will literally be crystal clear. |
| important choice when shopping for the perfect | | | | Color |
| diamond. | | | | The most unheard of C is the color. Many people |
| Rating Jewelry | | | | believe that diamonds only come in clear, but they |
| Diamonds are rated by the "four C's." An | | | | are actually formed in nature in a variety of |
| experienced and qualified jeweler will be able to | | | | colors. While some colors are rarer than others, |
| guide you through this rating process. But before | | | | the most common colors include yellow and rose. |
| heading off to the jewelry store, make sure you | | | | But the favorite remains the clear: colorless. |
| know a little about it so you can understand what | | | | Carat |
| the jeweler is talking to you about. | | | | Probably the most recognized rating system for |
| Cut | | | | the diamond is the carat weight. The higher the |
| A diamond's cut refers to the shape of the | | | | carat weight of the diamond, the larger the stone |
| diamond. Diamonds come in a variety of shapes | | | | and the higher the price tag. Many people figure |
| including the pear cut, the princess cut, the | | | | 2.5 month's salary for the budget when buying a |
| marquise cut, the emerald cut and the round cut. | | | | diamond. A jeweler will be able to show you a |
| The choice of diamond cut will depend upon the | | | | selection of carats depending upon your overall |
| lady's preference. Some women love the princess | | | | budget when purchasing. |
| cut while others prefer the more traditional round | | | | The best part of a proposal is the buying the |
| cut. | | | | diamond. Whether you decide to shop for the |
| Clarity | | | | diamond without the special lady or with the |
| The second C refers to the stones clarity. A | | | | special lady, you will need to know a little about |
| jeweler will look at the diamond under a 10X | | | | diamonds before heading off to the jewelry store. |
| magnification to see if there are any flaws in the | | | | |