How To Choose/Buy Diamonds: A Brief Tutorial

If you are planning on choosing to surprise that special someone with diamond jewelry in the near future, no doubt you want to be prepared. Buying diamonds can be tricky but it's not something that can't be done wisely, with a bit of education. Taking the time to learn what makes diamonds unique is the key to making a purchase that you both will be pleased with. And when you are finished, you'll be able to buy diamonds with ease and confidence.

Cut

There are many different cuts of diamonds. Spend some time together with the person who will be receiving your gift to find out which cut she prefers. Undoubtedly, most women have a favorite; one she feels will flatter her the most. You want to know her preference before you even begin shopping. Once you find out if you're looking for round, square, princess cut or any of the other cuts of diamonds, learn what makes each one special. For example, the brilliance of a round cut diamond is more spectacular than that of a square cut diamond, simply because of the way the stones are shaped to reflect the light.

Clarity

Clarity is one important factor you want to pay close attention to. Each diamond is graded on a scale. Grades are assigned to diamonds which will tell the buyer a great deal about their clarity. Each grade, which is noted by a combination of letters and numbers, holds a vast amount of information that you will need when you buy diamonds. To put it simply, clarity refers to the number of imperfections, or inclusions, within the diamond. These imperfections may or may not be seen by the naked eye. In actuality, the smartest purchase for the money, is a diamond that contains flaws that are not visible to the naked eye when looking through the top, or crown, of the diamond.

Color

Unknown to some people, diamonds come in a variety of colors. And they are graded according to color using the letter scale D through Z. Diamonds with a D color grade are extremely rare because they are completely colorless. Most diamonds found in jewelry stores are color grades F through H, which indicates that they do have some color, but they are almost colorless. This makes for a diamond that is easier on the wallet, but just as beautiful to the beholder.

Carat

The carat refers to the weight of the diamond. Carat weight is one of the easiest decisions to make when you visit a store to buy diamonds. Oftentimes, the cut of the diamond can make a stone of less carat weight appear larger than a stone that has a larger carat weight. By shopping carefully, and understanding carat weight, you'll no doubt choose a beautiful stone that takes her breath away.

The most important factor to remember when buying a diamond is to shop around. Once you educate yourself, it won't be hard to find a retailer that sells diamonds who is able to sell you exactly what you are looking for. And, because you took the time to learn exactly what you wanted, you'll be more informed to make a decision that both you and your intended will be pleased with.