Diamond jewelry is a gift that she is guaranteed to love, but sometimes it can be difficult to know what exactly you are buying. Looking at diamonds with the naked eye will not help you judge its quality. Do not be afraid to ask a jeweler to use their jewelers’ loupe (a magnifying device) and to explain the diamond to you. Gemologists use a diamond ranking system. By understanding this system, and what the letters mean, you can choose the perfect diamond. The “4 Cs” — color, cut, clarity, and carat weight are the key factors in determining the price of diamond jewelry.

Color

Completely colorless diamonds are the most valuable, and the rarest kind. Most “clear” stones contain small amounts of color. A one-letter designation classifies diamonds according to the amount of color, if any, they contain. The highest rating for colorlessness is D, with E and F close behind. These colorless stones are very rare. The scale continues past near-colorless (G-J), faint yellow (K-M), very light yellow (N-R), and to light yellow (V-X). Diamonds graded from G to I have virtually no color visible to the untrained eye. Color choice may be more important when placing the stone in a sterling silver, white gold, or platinum setting, where a diamond’s yellow tint would be more noticeable.

Cut

Cut does not refer to the overall shape of the stone (as seen in round or pear-shaped gems). Rather, cut refers to the reflective quality of the diamond. A well cut diamond catches and reflects the light, with a brilliant sparkle. Poorly cut diamonds have less sparkle. The cut of a diamond is rated to help consumers choose a stone. Ideal and Premium cuts are the most expensive but will shine the most. Fair and Poor cut diamonds will reflect less light but will be cheaper to buy.

Clarity

Diamonds are natural materials, and it is common for them to contain small imperfections. Inclusions are imperfections inside the gemstone, while blemishes affect the outside. Jewelers use a 10x loupe (a magnifying device) to inspect and grade stones. The grading is as follows:

- F: Flawless. Almost Impossible to find, make sure that if someone tries to sell you one that they are legitimate and not trying to con you with a synthetic diamond. – IF: Internally Flawless. There may be some surface flaws, but the diamond is perfect inside. This is very rare.

- VVS1 – VVS2: This is actually two grades of Very Very Slightly Included. These stones have tiny inclusions not easily detected by trained professionals.

- VS1 – VS2: Two more grades, Very Slightly Included. Small imperfections are hard to spot.

- SI1 – SI2: Two grades of Slightly Included, with small imperfections a little easier to see with magnification.

While the value of a diamond increases with its clarity, it’s important to know that the imperfections contained in grades F through SI are not visible to the naked eye. There are also three grades of Included (I1 – I3), which contain imperfections that can be visible.

Carat Weight

Diamonds are measured in carats, with one carat equal to 0.2 grams. The largest cut diamond in history is Cullinan1, Star of Africa, weighing in at a whopping 520 carats. Currently, it is set in the scepter of King Edward VII – worthy of royalty indeed! Your budget (or scepter) may be smaller, so don’t let size be the only factor you consider. The setting you choose has to comfortably fit the stone, neither too small nor too large. Also, precious stones look larger when worn by someone with small, slender fingers.

The four Cs – color, cut, clarity, and carat weight – are important considerations when buying diamond jewelry. With this information, you can begin to make sense of confusing letter grades.

Your engagement ring is a valuable sign of your eternal love. Something you wear every day no matter what you are doing. And because of this, your engagement ring can be subjected to harsh chemicals and activities. While it’s true that diamonds are the hardest gem, they can become damaged if you are not careful. Learning how to properly care for your diamond ring can make sure that it really will last for time without end.

Through your daily behavior, your engagement ring can get dirty and soiled. Even If you take them off when you do housecleaning and wash, they can collect dust. Soaps, lotions, and our natural skin oils, can cause film and grime which can dull the brilliance of your diamond engagement ring.

In order to keep your diamonds looking glossy and new you should clean it frequently. Regular cleaning will cover that the maximum amount of light can refract the stones burning brightness. To clean your diamond, you can use a small brush – an eyebrow brush is perfect. You don’t really need any special chemicals, just make a bowl of sudsy water with soap or mild detergent and put your engagement ring in the water to immerse. After a few minutes take the soft bristled brush and rub the diamond in the suds.

Rinse the engagement ring carefully to remove all the soapy suds. Don’t simply hold it in your fingers under the water or you might find yourself taking the drain apart to search for your ring! You can put the ring in a small strainer and run the water through that to make sure all the soap gets washed off. Finally, take a lint free jeweler cloth and pat the ring dry.

There is an old proverb that diamonds are a girl’s best friend. That still makes a lot of sense. Diamonds are the perfect gift for that special woman in your life. Nothing will light up a woman’s face earlier than opening that jewelry box and finding a stunning stone set in gold or platinum inside. Diamonds are a girl’s best friend because they are beautiful. Fiery, romantic diamonds light up a woman’s finger and make her the center of attention. Everyone will look and comment on how large and beautiful it is. They will praise the man that bought it for her as being a keeper. White diamonds are versatile to look beautiful with outfits of and shade and color. Diamonds are forever. Everything you can buy will either die or fade over time. The beauty of a diamond is eternal. Diamonds are hard almost indestructible stones. It takes a diamond to cut a diamond. They will not break nor will the fade.