Your Diamond Buying Guide

What a Diamond Means

The enduring gift of love.
For centuries, men and women have found that the sparkle and brilliance of a quality diamond expresses their deepest emotions and symbolizes their enduring love. Yet with many beautiful diamonds to choose from - and no two alike - how do you pick the right diamond while spending wisely? The Diamond Quality Pyramid and the 4Cs, along with the guidance of a trusted jeweler, will lead you to the answer.

The Diamond Quality Pyramid

How to measure a diamond's value.
The Diamond Quality Pyramid is a frame work to help you compare diamonds. While all diamonds are precious, those closest to the top of the pyramid, possessing the best combination of cut, clarity, carat weight and color are the earth's rarest, most valuable and most beautiful to the eye.

The 4Cs

Key to the diamond quality pyramid.
To establish a diamond's quality, jewelers examine each of the 4Cs - cut, clarity, carat weight and color. The combination of the 4Cs determines the value of a particular diamond. For example, a colorless diamond is at the top of the Diamond Quality Pyramid in color . . . but if it lacks clarity, is small or not well cut, it will be of a lower value. The finest stones possess the rarest quality in each of the 4Cs, and are the most valuable. (Read more about the 4Cs...)

Strive for a stone that offers the best combination of the 4Cs. Knowing a diamond's place in the Diamond Quality Pyramid will help you to make an informed decision. Ultimately, you'll discover the unique combination of the 4Cs that makes a particular diamond the right choice for you. Its beauty and brilliance will capture the true sentiment of the occasion.

What to Spend

Diamond buyer's guide.
When you start to think about buying a diamond -- and the love it will symbolize -- you naturally want the best you can afford and a beautiful stone you will treasure forever. Diamonds can be found in a range of prices, and you're certain to find one within the Diamond Quality Pyramid that suits your taste and what you plan to spend.

If you're about to buy a Diamond Engagement Ring, you may want to consider spending the commonly accepted guideline of two months' salary. But it's up to you to settle on a diamond that will truly represent your deepest emotions and the promise for the future you will share. How can you be sure to choose the perfect diamond for her? She may already have dropped hints by admiring a photograph or someone else's diamond. Browse with her at a trusted jeweler. Share your knowledge of the 4Cs. Later, surprise her with a diamond beyond all her expectations.

When it comes to other types of diamond jewelry, such as a Diamond Solitaire Necklace and Diamond Solitaire Stud Earrings, purchase the diamond that captures the brilliance of the moment. Choosing a quality diamond to celebrate life's most intimate occasions is a truly rewarding experience for the one who gives as well as for the one who receives.

How a Jeweler Can Help

The 5th C: Confidence
A jeweler who's a diamond expert can help you to select the right stone. Trustworthy jewelers, who establish long-standing relationships with customers, take pride in finding quality diamonds for them. These experts are knowledgeable and accessible and they're able to explain the 4Cs, as well as show you a selection of diamonds in a range of prices.

While all diamonds are beautiful, only by comparing stones will you be able to appreciate what makes one more rare and valuable than another. When you view stones side by side, you'll understand why diamonds that look similar at a casual glance are priced differently. Keep in mind that there are no "bargain" diamonds, there are only diamonds of different value, weight and brilliance.

A trusted jeweler can help you choose a diamond shape that suits your personal taste. The classic Round Brilliant, Oval, Pear, Marquise, Princess, Heart and Emerald shapes are among the most beautiful and popular today.

When You Find The Right Diamond

An occasion worth celebrating.
Now that you understand why some diamonds are more rare than others, you can make an informed decision. Choose a beautiful stone that combines the qualities of the 4Cs you most value. Then you're I ready to give the most enduring gift of love, born of the earth reborn on the woman you love, this diamond is more than a precious gem and all that it symbolizes... it is a piece of forever.