Before you even begin shopping for a diamond, you should get familiar with the different ways a diamond is graded. This will help you in selecting the diamond that is best for you and your budget. Please familiarize yourself with the Four C's and you'll be on your way to getting the perfect diamond that you're looking for. If you would like more information regarding the Four C's, you may contact us by e-mail.

The Four C's
The Four C's are used to grade a diamond. Grading standards reflect "very subtle" graduations of differences -- a small carbon spot, slight shift in color, or small imperfection in the cut or polish of the diamond will significantly affect its value. They are Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight. With each, comes it's own characteristics and make a diamond worth more or less based on those specifications.

Once a stone gets above VS in clarity it generally appears to the unaided eye to be "perfect". Here is some basic information to help you in understanding the diamond grading scale.

1. Cut Cut is the first thing people see in a diamond. This is the shape in which the diamond is cut when created. It has a tremendous effect on its sparkle & brilliance. Even if the color and clarity are not highly graded, the cut of a stone can make the diamond very dull. So this will be the first step in finding your diamond - figuring out what shaped diamond you would like.		2. Clarity Most diamonds contain tiny, natural birthmarks known as "inclusions". The fewer the inclusions, the rarer, and more expensive the diamond. A lot of these inclusions cannot be seen with the naked eye, but still exist. To find out which clarity grade is best for you, read on...
3. Color Diamonds without color or nearly without color are very rare, thus their price is reflected accordingly. You may see a slight tint in some stones; others appear more white/clear. The whiter the stone, the more valuable it is. Some diamonds have such a faint tint, they are almost unnoticable, thus allowing a customer to get a great diamond for a lower cost.		4. Carat Weight The last characteristic of the Four C's is Carat Weight. Since diamonds with higher carat weight are more rare, their price is increased exponentially as their size increases. Find out how big your diamond should be so it will be balanced with the piece of jewelry you purchase.

Other C's
There are two other C's that are also important when purchasing and owning a diamond. They are Certification and Care. Learn more about the other 2 C's so you may be even more aware about how to keep your diamond clean and what it means for your diamond to be certified.

1. Certification This is an important step in choosing a diamond. A certified diamond is one that has been given a "stamp of approval" by certain grading labs around the world. With this certificate, you will know that what you are buying is REAL. It is proof that you are not getting phony jewelry. The diamond is graded on different specifications, including the 4 C's, dimensions, and more. Read more about diamond certification here.

2. Care for your Diamond Many people think diamonds cannot be damaged, but they do still require care. Also, care must be taken with the setting that holds the diamond so your stone will not accidentally come loose while performing certain tasks. Learn how to keep your diamond looking as new as the day you bought it and also how to prevent the loss of your diamond due to damaged settings.