Sunday, March 15, 2009

Diamonds - The 4 C's

Selecting a diamond for the first time can be bewildering. The tangle of information, investment and the emotional charge, if it is for and Engagement ring, can make it feel more complicated than it is. I will try to make it as simple as possible.

The Gemological Institute of America is a super reliable source for information. Please read about the 4C's on their site to learn about how the relationship of Color(whiteness), Clarity(number of inclusions), Cut(proportionally, not style) and Carat(overall weight) define the quality and value of a stone.


Ok, now that you know the basics, consider which characteristics are most important to you given your budget. Do you want the largest stone possible or would you sacrifice size for a white white diamond? Its a trade-off. As an extreme example, for a similar investment, you can but a .25 carat D color Flawless stone or a full carat M color I3 (very included) diamond. Fortunately, there are also many other choices in the middle.