4 C's of Diamonds

 The quality of a diamond is the most important (aside from making your lady happy) thing to know when your shopping.  Below is the universally accepted scale of grading diamonds.  Today more than ever it is important for a consumer to be informed to ensure that they get the best price possible.  Take a look and get familiar with what you want to look for.

Color- The color of a diamond is an important part of buying a diamond.  The absence of color in a diamond makes it more valuable.  The chart below shows diamond color starting at D Colorless (desirable) and ending at Z (undesirable).

Clarity- The clarity of a diamond is another important part of buying a diamond.  The absence of inclusions (flaws) makes a diamond more valuable.  The chart below shows a diamond starting at Flawless and ranging down to Included to the 3^rd degree.

Cut- The cut of a diamond is an often overlooked aspect of diamond buying.  The way that a diamond is cut determines how much light reflects out of the top of the stone.  Below is a chart that shows the best and worst cuts of diamonds.  What to look for and what to shy away from.

Carat- The carat is the weight of the diamond.  This is usually the most easily understood C of diamonds.  Below is a millimeter comparison to carat weight (not shown to scale).