Diamond ShapeChoose a shape that flatters your hand and complements your personal style. Round diamonds exceed all other shapes in their ability to reflect light. Learn about diamond shape.

Carat WeightLook for the largest size within your price range that is still good quality. Don’t sacrifice quality for size; remember, bigger isn’t necessarily better.

Diamond ColorThe less color, the better. Diamonds are color graded on a scale from D-Z, with D as the most desirable (and valuable).

Diamond CutA diamond’s cut is graded on a scale from Excellent/Ideal – Poor; the better the cut grade, the more brilliance the diamond will emit.

Diamond ClarityWhile flawless is best, inclusions make up the ‘fingerprint’ of the diamond. Look for inclusions that are not noticeable to the naked eye. The grading scale ranges from FL – I3.

FluorescenceDiamond fluorescence, is graded from None to Very Strong. Though fluorescence doesn’t usually affect the diamond’s quality, it’s best to look for grades of Medium, Faint, or None.

Why Buy Certified Diamonds?

Certified diamonds have been verified for quality, allowing consumers to purchase with confidence based on the attributes of the diamond rather than blindly trusting the sales pitch of the retailer. When armed with a grading certificate, consumers have a pretty good idea of what the diamond will look like without having to see it in person. Certified diamonds also:

• Hold their value better than their non-certified counterparts, especially for resale and upgrading purposes
• Simplify the comparison process”it’s much easier to compare certified diamonds based on the 4 Cs than it is to rely on visual inspection alone
• Broaden the shopping base to include online retailers, resulting in significant savings

When purchasing certified diamonds, be sure the diamond certification is from a third-party laboratory rather than one associated with the store, jeweler, or diamond wholesaler, who may offer a biased opinion to facilitate the sale. Also, verify that the third-party laboratory has a history of stringent grading practices and that they’ve been in business long enough to establish a solid reputation in the jewelry industry.

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