The 4 C's (Cut, Color, Clarity, Carat)

When choosing a diamond, the most important attribute is the cut. It is the cut of the diamond that causes its brilliance or fire. The best cut diamond is called the "ideal" cut. To achieve an ideal cut, the diamond must be cut to perfect proportions, allowing maximum brilliance. Only 1 percent of diamonds are cut to ideal proportions so it may be difficult to find. It is important to ask your jeweler how ordinary diamonds compare with one of ideal proportions. An ideally cut diamond or one of a superior cut can aid in hiding imperfections in both the color and clarity of the diamond. There are also many different cuts available. All diamond cuts can be beautiful, but only round brilliant cut diamonds can be cut to ideal proportions.

Color is the second most important attribute when choosing the perfect diamond for you. Nuances in the color of a diamond can dramatically alter the diamond's value. The rarest diamond is the colorless diamond and diamonds are graded on a scale from D (colorless) to Z (yellow). There is a total of 21 different color grades which are done in 1/2 point increments. Although increasing shades of yellow reduce the value of a diamond, it does not necessarily reduce its beauty. Well cut diamonds often disguise certain degrees of coloration through the refraction and dispersion of light.

The clarity of the diamond also determines its value. Most diamonds have slight inclusions within its structure or blemishes on its surface. Think of the inclusions as the diamond's birthmarks. These slight inclusions rarely affect the beauty of the diamond, but they always affect its value. Some inclusions can only be seen by a trained eye under 10x magnification; therefore they are not visible to the naked eye. A well cut diamond can minimize the appearance of any inclusions, just as it can minimize the affect certain degrees of coloration have on the stone. This is why it is imperative to buy the best cut you can afford.

Carat weight is the last and least important aspect when buying a diamond, although it is often the standard used to measure diamonds. Carat weight is the easiest of the four C's to gauge accurately, but it may be the least important in determining value. As diamonds increase in size, the cost of that diamond increases dramatically. A one carat diamond can cost many times more than a smaller stone of equal quality (in terms of cut, color, and clarity).. Additionally, weight can reduce the stone's brilliance if it is improperly cut.