Picking out a diamond engagement ring is a very exciting and memorable experience. The more you know about diamonds the better you will be at finding the perfect diamond to fit your budget. To be able to choose a good quality diamond you must first understand the 4 C’s. The 4 C’s are cut, color, clarity and carat weight.

When a jeweler talks about a diamond’s cut they are not referring to the shape. The shape refers to the general appearance of the diamond. They are talking about the angles and proportions that are made when a rough diamond is transformed into a polished diamond.

The cut is probably the most important and the hardest to figure out when it comes to choosing a diamond. The brilliance of the diamond depends heavily on its cut. The cut gives a diamond the brightness that shines throughout the diamond. Because the cut is so important there are several grading methods that have been developed to help determine the cut. The grades are Ideal, Very Good, Good and Fair/Poor cuts.

The Ideal cut is intended to maximize brilliance and usually is more expensive. Very Good cut diamonds will reflect most of the light that enters them creating a good deal of brilliance. The Good cut diamond can offer an excellent cost savings to you if you are trying to stay within a budget. The Good cut offers quality and beauty for a reasonable price. Most reputable jewelers stay away from cuts that are Fair to Poor, because this cut only reflects a small portion of light.

Most diamonds will contain some type of flaw or inclusions that happened during the formation process. The number, size and visibility of these flaws determine the clarity of the diamond. Diamonds that have less flaws or imperfections will create more brilliance and therefore are highly prized and pricier.

When it comes to diamonds, no color is the most desirable. This is because it allows the most reflection of light. When jewelers are grading the color of a diamond, they refer to a professional color scale. The scale begins with the highest rating of the letter “D” for colorless and a color scale continues all the way to Z. You will notice that there may be a very faint hint of yellow apparent in diamonds graded J through M. These grades of diamonds look very nice in a gold setting.

The carat is the unit of weight by which a diamond is measured. Large diamonds are less common than small diamonds. The larger the diamond is, the higher the price. To decide on the carat size you first need to determine your budget. Deciding on the carat size is about striking a balance between size and quality.

These are just a few things that you should know when you are deciding on which diamond engagement ring to buy the love of your life. It’s wise to shop around and do your homework and learn all you can about diamonds and pricing. This is just a simple overview to give you an idea of what you need to look for. You can do your own research and find out more about the 4 C’s and Diamond Certificates so you can make a knowledgeable decision on the ring for your fiancé.

lawrence reaves – this article is provided by danforthdiamond.com a leading authority on wedding rings, engagement rings and fine jewelry. danforth diamond provides wisdom and advice to help you choose the right ring at the right price. visit danforthdiamond.com or call 877.404.ring

Related posts:

1. Why is the Diamond Cut of a Diamond so Important? When you are seeking that perfect gift, such as a diamond engagement ring that expresses your true feelings, you need to think about the cut of the diamond. The cut of a diamond refers to angles and proportions of the diamond when it is being transformed from a rough diamond into a polished one. This [...]...
2. Why is a Diamond Certification Important? When you are looking for the perfect diamond for the engagement ring to give to the love of your life; you need to make sure that you know all there is to know about diamonds. By being informed about how diamonds are graded you will be able to get a beautiful diamond to fit within [...]...
3. Looking For an Engagement Ring? Here’s How to Save ... If you’re intimidated by the process of engagement ring shopping, you’re not alone. Most of us are worried about this large, important purchase. However, there are some ways you can save a lot of money, find a discount engagement ring and make the whole process much simpler. One obvious thing that most of us know [...]...
4. Tips For Choosing the Type of Metal For Her Engagement Ring One of the first decisions you will have to make when deciding on which engagement ring to pick is choosing the right metal. Jewelry comes in many metal choices which include; gold, platinum, silver and palladium. You have to decide which type of metal your fiancé will enjoy. You can usually tell her preference of [...]...
5. Tips on Choosing the Best Ring to Fit Her Style Now that you have found the women that you want to spend the rest of your life with; you are ready to find the perfect ring. There are many different style setting and styles of rings to choose from. If you don’t have any idea what type of ring she wants you will have to [...]...
6. Wedding Rings: Platinum DIamonds Together Some things are a perfect pairing and meant for each other – peaches and cream, wine and cheese, eggs and bacon and … platinum and diamonds. This perfect pairing combines to create the ultimate in wedding rings. A platinum and diamond wedding band is a symbol of everlasting and eternal love and commitment. That is [...]...
7. Anatomy Of An Engagement Ring The ritual of the wedding proposal and the presentation of the diamond engagement ring create the highlight event of any courtship. A tradition that dates back to the ancient Romans, the engagement ring itself has many layers of symbolism. Each piece of the ring is a strong symbol communicating key information about herself, her partner [...]...
8. Planning the Perfect Engagement Party Becoming engaged is a special moment in your life and you are so excited that you want to share your good news with everyone. Engagement party etiquette has changed over the years. Traditionally, the engage party was given by the bride’s parents. Today, there are no set rules; anyone can give an engagement party. You [...]...
9. Choosing a Vintage Diamond Wedding Ring There is no doubt that you will need to search for your wedding rings after you have decided to get married. You will need to search for the best and most perfect items for your event. When you are trying to visit your local stores or some online shops, you will realize that there are [...]...
10. Engagement Rings: A Symbol of Love Through the Ages The first known exchange of engagement rings comes down to us from five millenia ago; in ancient Egypt, a band worn on the finger was seen as a symbol of eternal love. In ancient Rome, the acceptance of a ring from a suitor was considered to be a legally binding arrangement and meant that the [...]...