How do you shop for diamonds?

Answer 1

Diamonds are graded based on the 4 C’s, which are cut, color, clarity and carat. The colors are graded based on the following: D, E, F G, H, I, J, K, L and M, developed by the Gemological Institute of America ranging from colorless to light yellow, with D being the best. The grading for clarity ranges from FL – flawless, IF – internally flawless, VVS1’2 – very very slightly included, VS1’2 – very slightly included and SI1, SI2 – slightly included, with flawless being the best in the grade. Clarity measures how clean a diamond is from inclusions. Diamond cut is perhaps the most important of the four Cs, so it is important to understand how this quality affects the properties and values of a diamond. A good cut gives a diamond its brilliance, which is that brightness that seems to come from the very heart of a diamond. The angles and finish of any diamond are what determine its ability to handle light, which leads to fire, brilliance & scintillation. Commonly thought to refer to the actual size of a diamond, a carat is actually a standard unit of measure that defines the weight of a diamond.

Answer 2

Get familiarized with the 4Cs of diamonds first: cut, clarity, colour and carat weight.

Answer 3

You can start by educating yourself as to gem-stone qualities for diamonds: cut, colour, carat weight and clarity. You can learn about them from the site, below.