Diamond Engagement Rings

When it comes to buying diamonds, a bit of knowledge about these precious stones will go a long way in making an informed decision and purchase. If you've already begun to research engagement rings you'll have probably come across the standard for determining a diamond's worth, commonly known as "The Four C's":

(1) Color

In general, diamonds that are clearer are more expensive. Colorless diamonds are considered to be "perfect" and are therefore more expensive. There are, however, rare "colored" diamonds (pink diamonds, etc.) and these are significantly more costly than their clear counterparts.

(2) Cut

The way that a jeweler carves the diamond has a direct effect on the diamond's brilliance and ability to shine. A truly accurate cut will make the diamond really sparkle.

There are different cuts, or shapes, to choose from: a "Brilliant" (or "Round") Cut is the most common choice, but there are other options as well including the Oval, Pear, Marquis, Emerald and Heart shape cuts.

(3) Clarity

From diamond to diamond, there are certain flaws and imperfections in each stone - some of which may not even be visible to the naked eye. The more "flawless" the diamond, the more expensive it will be.

There is a grading system for diamonds used by jewelers: 'FL' means Flawless, 'VVS' means Very Very Small Spots, 'VS' means Very Small Spots, etc. on down to 'I3' which means Obvious Imperfections. Normally, the naked eye can't see imperfections down to a 'VS2' grade.

(4) Carats

The number of carats of a diamond simply refers to its weight. The larger the diamond, the larger the price tag.

Recommended Resources

We recommend Blue Nile as an established and reputable diamond retailer:

The largest online retailer of certified diamonds and fine jewelry and one of the 10 largest jewelry retailers in the country - offering over 60,000 certified diamonds to choose from.

Prices 20 to 40 percent below retail.

Forbes Magazine has consistently voted Blue Nile their favorite online jeweler.

Blue Nile won the BizRate Circle of Excellence Platinum Award for outstanding customer service, 2002-2005.

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