| The most common of engagement traditions | | | | color grade, which is extremely |
| is the groom presenting the bride to be | | | | extraordinary. |
| with an engagement ring. Most commonly, | | | | E: Colorless. An expert, still |
| the engagement ring is a diamond ring. | | | | considered a rare diamond, can detect |
| While diamonds are the preferred | | | | only minute traces of color. |
| precious stones, diamonds are not the | | | | F: Colorless. Slight color detected by |
| only gems used in engagement rings. | | | | an expert gemologist, but still |
| The most important reason diamond rings | | | | considered a "colorless" grade and a |
| are so popular is because they are the | | | | high-quality diamond. |
| most expensive of gems; therefore, | | | | Another important factor determining the |
| considered the most precious. The | | | | price of a diamond is its cut. As any of |
| diamond jewelry retail market is a $30 | | | | the other characteristics cut is equally |
| billion market with over $5 billion of | | | | difficult to judge for the untrained |
| it spent on engagement rings in America. | | | | eye. The grading certificate that |
| To the untrained eye, most diamonds look | | | | normally comes with the diamond will |
| equally beautiful. Most people evaluate | | | | provide you a good idea. Independent |
| diamonds based on its size, shape, and | | | | testing institutions, such as the GIA, |
| price. A lower price typically means | | | | provide certificates with a diamond's |
| lower gem quality, not necessarily a | | | | grading from excellent to poor. |
| bargain. | | | | Naturally, a certified diamond means a |
| Estimating diamond quality requires | | | | larger price tag. |
| skill and experience. It requires | | | | In simple terms, the clarity of a |
| grading a ring based on a combination of | | | | diamond refers to its purity. Most |
| characteristics such as cut, clarity, | | | | diamonds have minuscule imperfections |
| color and carat weight. Such | | | | called "inclusions". A flawless (no |
| characteristics are called the "4 Cs". A | | | | inclusions) diamond is extremely rare |
| diamond's weight is measured in carats. | | | | and valuable. At the same time, diamonds |
| One carat is one fifth of a gram. | | | | riddled with inclusions are less |
| Generally diamonds range from 0.25 up to | | | | expensive. Clarity is graded from |
| several carats. The largest cut diamond | | | | "flawless" (FL) to "imperfect" (I1 to |
| in the world is 530.20 carats. Sorry, it | | | | I2). Most diamonds fall between those |
| is not fore sale. It is called the | | | | with very, very small inclusions (VVS1) |
| Cullinan and kept in the Tower of | | | | to rocks with slightly larger inclusions |
| London. The Cullinan is set in the | | | | (S1). If you can compromise on clarity, |
| sceptre of King Edward VII. | | | | you are going to be able to save. To |
| In addition to considering weight when | | | | verify a diamond's clarity, examine the |
| valuing a diamond, color is an important | | | | laboratory certificate. |
| factor. Colorless diamonds are rarest | | | | If money is tight but you must have a |
| and they are the most expensive. | | | | diamond ring, stay away from the big |
| Diamonds with a hint of yellow are | | | | name jewelry stores. Brand name more |
| considered less pure, and they are less | | | | often than not comes with a larger price |
| expensive. Diamond colors are coded from | | | | tag. Buying wholesale may be a viable |
| D to Z. A through D grade diamonds are | | | | option. As a rule, the wholesaler's core |
| the most expensive and Z are the least | | | | business is selling diamonds to |
| expensive. Diamonds graded D-F are | | | | retailers, but they also sell to the |
| considered colorless and they are the | | | | public. Because they do not advertise in |
| most expensive. Reputable jewelry | | | | the same venues as retail jewelry |
| stores, usually, do not sell K thru Z | | | | stores, you have to seek them out. It is |
| grade diamonds. | | | | easier to find wholesalers than you |
| The most valuable color grades: | | | | think since many of them are listed as |
| A - D: Absolutely colorless. The highest | | | | diamond merchants in the phone book. |