Education
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This crash course in diamond buying will help you understand how diamonds are valued and priced - and help you decide what's most important to you in a diamond. The easiest way to explain diamonds is using the four Cs: color, cut, clarity, and carat.
Color
While most are white (with a faint tint), diamonds may be any color. Color quality is critical. A diamond's beauty and value usually increase dramatically the more colorless it is. The spectrum ranges from light yellow to totally colorless.
Colored diamonds (pinks, blues, yellows, oranges, greens, etc.) are not measured on this scale.
Cut
At the hands of a masterful craftsman, a precisely cut diamond will reflect and refract light, creating sparkle, fire, and brilliance.
The more perfect the cut, the more captivating the diamond is to the eye. Below are examples of the different types of cuts in the industry today and how they affect the diamond's beauty.
Clarity
Imperfections that formed when a diamond first crythe Gemstallized are called "inclusions." A "flawless" diamond - one that shows no imperfections or inclusions under 10-power magnification - is rare.
Carat
Carat refers to size and weight. One carat equals 100 points. Most rough diamonds weigh less than a carat. The larger the diamond, the more rare it is, and the greater its value. However, two diamonds with the same carat weight can vary greatly in value, depending on the color, clarity, and most importantly, the cut.
For even more detailed information, the Gemological Institute of America has prepared an excellent brochere that you can download as a PDF.
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