CARAT

The carat weight of a diamond is often the first thing that comes to mind for most people. It refers to the weight of the diamond. One carat is equal to 200 milligrams. But remember that a bigger diamond is not always better. The quality of clarity, color and cut are equally, if not more, important.

COLOR

Most diamonds have some type of color. Color is rated on a scale from D (completely colorless) to Z (yellowish or brown). Colorless diamonds are rare and therefore often more expensive, but many people find the warmth of a light color appealing.

CUT

The cut of a diamond refers to both the shape of the diamond - whether round, oval, square, etc. - and the way the diamond was cut. A good cut ensures maximum brilliance. A diamond with an excellent cut will sparkle and shine because light is reflected effectively through the stone. If a diamond is not well cut, the light could "leak" and the diamond would not shine as brightly.

CLARITY

Each diamond is unique, and many have small features or "inclusions." These are often only visible under high magnification. The clarity of a diamond refers to the extent of these inclusions. A diamond can be classified as "flawless" if it has no inclusions or surface defects under 10x magnification. However, "perfect" is a subjective assessment - for some, a diamond with small, invisible inclusions is just as perfect as a flawless diamond. The important thing is that you pay for what you and your partner can really appreciate and see.