How To Buy Guide - Jewelry Guide

The saying "diamonds are a girl's best friend" has a lot of truth to it – for most women, you can't go wrong with a piece of diamond jewelry. When buying a diamond, look for the 4 C's:

Carat Weight – This is the most obvious factor in determining the value of a diamond. Don't get confused: the carat is a measure of weight, whereas the Karat is a measure of purity for metals such as gold. More is better...although two diamonds of equal carat weights can have different prices based on their quality (they can also appear larger or smaller, depending on the cut).

Clarity – A diamond's clarity is especially important when purchasing a stone people will look at closely (such as an engagement ring). Clarity refers to the number of imperfections in the stone when viewed by a skilled diamond grader under 10x magnification. Diamond clarity is graded on a scale ranging from Flawless/Internally Flawless to Imperfect. In order, the complete scale is: F/IF, VVS1-2, VS1-2, SI1-2, and I1-3.

Color – Differences in diamond color grades are very subtle, ranging from D (totally colorless) to Z (light yellow). Of the 4 C's, experts say that color and cut are the most important (in other words, don't compromise on color). An "H" color or better diamond is usually best.

Cut – The most important of the 4 C's, a diamond's cut is often confused with its shape (which is largely a matter of personal preference and does not affect the value significantly). A master diamond cutter will cut a diamond to allow it to reflect the maximum amount of light, making it appear more brilliant and bright.

When purchasing diamond jewelry online, be sure the merchant provides an analysis of the stone's 4 C's. They should also tell you if the diamond has been treated in any way, since different types of treatment can lessen the value of a diamond.

General Tips

Some general tips on buying diamond jewelry:

When shopping for rings or jewelry people will look at closely, make sure the diamond has a minimum clarity of SI2, so that inclusions aren't visible to the naked eye.

Most people won't look closely at earrings, so worry less about clarity and color and more about size and cut. Doing so will make sure the diamond is more visible and brilliant. At an absolute minimum, look for an I1 clarity stone...but only go to that level if it helps you get a bigger diamond. If you must have a better quality diamond, be prepared to spend more.

For items that contain many smaller diamonds (such as tennis bracelets and fashion rings), the most important priority is stone size. You'll appreciate the diamonds being larger much more than you would if they were clearer or whiter. Try to get tennis bracelets with .04-.05 carat diamonds or larger.

If you'd like to start shopping now, click here to browse through our most popular diamond earrings and tennis bracelets.

If you'd like to keep reading, read on to discover shopping tips for gemstones and pearls.