| Buying a diamond can be an overwhelming | | | | Clarity is determined by how many flaws there |
| experience.It's complicated. There are lots of new | | | | are, which will also Effect the brilliance. Almost all |
| words you need to learn, but don't panic! The | | | | stones have flaws, but the untrained eye will |
| basics are very easy to understand. | | | | rarely notice them. |
| BODY: | | | | People are often surprised that diamonds have a |
| It's easy to get overwhelmed when buying a | | | | color, but they do. Colors such as red and green |
| diamond by all the new words you have to learn. | | | | are extremely rare and therefore are very |
| But don't panic! It's not really that difficult. | | | | expensive. Most common are white or |
| The four most common terms used to describe | | | | near-colorless diamonds, with just a hint of color. |
| diamonds are cut, clarity, color, and carat. It's vital | | | | These traces of color will absorb light, so for |
| to understand what each of these means as they | | | | maximumbrilliance you want a stone with as little |
| define a diamonds quality and value. | | | | color as possible. |
| The cut, not surprisingly describes the way in | | | | Carats are a measure of weight. A small increase |
| which the stone has been cut. This tells you more | | | | in weight will mean a Big increase in cost. In fact it |
| than simply what shape it is. The cut will | | | | is possible to buy many small diamonds for The |
| determine how light passes through and how | | | | cost of one large one. |
| much it will appear to sparkle, or how much | | | | Now you understand these key words, buying a |
| brilliance it has. This will be rated from poor to | | | | diamond should be a much Less scary prospect. |
| ideal. | | | | |