How to Pick a Diamond

It is very important to familiarize yourself with the four C’s of diamonds before you pick a diamond for that special piece of jewelry. The four C’s, or components, of diamonds are cut, color, clarity and carat. Knowing what to look for when diamond shopping protects you from costly mistakes and enables you to choose a diamond that gives you the most value for your money.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Take the time to learn and understand the four C’s of diamonds so you are an informed diamond shopper.
2. Study the cuts of the diamonds you are considering. The different cuts determine each diamond's shape and brilliance.
3. Assess the color of the diamonds, knowing that generally the clearer the color of the stone, the more valuable it will be. The GIA (Gemological Institute of America) created a worldwide diamond color scale with colors ranging from D to Z, with D being a colorless diamond. The scale continues for fancy-colored diamonds. Fancy diamonds are stones with rich deep color and are very valuable. Pink and red diamonds are the rarest and most expensive.
4. Focus on the clarity of the diamonds. Check for any inclusions, which are imperfections or blemishes in the diamond. The value of a diamond drops approximately 10 percent with each lower clarity grade. For an excellent clarity guide, visit the Diamonds and Engagement Rings website (see Resources below).
5. Know that carat measures a diamond’s weight, not its size. A diamond may appear larger if it has a shallow cut but be less valuable than a smaller stone of a higher carat.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a jeweler’s loop when assessing the diamonds you are considering. Often inclusions and color are invisible to the naked eye.
• It is always best to shop for diamonds at reputable places.