The Four C's of Diamond Quality

Carat:

Carat is the unit of weight used to measure diamonds. There are 100 points to a carat, and a stone weighting less than a carat may be referred to by its points, such as .25 points or .25. This would be a quarter carat. Diamonds may also be classified by terms such as 1/5 or 1/4 carat, but these classifications can be misleading. For example, a 1/4 carat can actually weight anywhere between 23 and 28 points. 

Cut:

Cut refers to the shape of the stone and the arrangement of the facets, the polished flat planes. The better the cut, the more it sparkles.

Here are the seven main cuts of diamonds:

Round (most common)
Marquise (pointed on both ends)
Pear
Oval
Emerald (rectangular)
Princess (square)
Heart

Side stone options are:

Baguette (rectangular)
Trillion (triangle)

Color:

The color of a diamond can vary greatly, although at first glance, most diamonds appear colorless. The Gemological Institute of America grades color in diamonds with letters, starting with D as the clearest, going down to Z. D, E, and F diamonds are quite rare, you will find most diamonds in the H range.

Clarity:

Clarity is a diamond's degree of freedom from internal flaws such as carbon spots and bubbles, also called inclusions. Most of these are not visible to the naked eye and must be detected by trained personnel using a microscope. Flawless stones are very rare. Since most flaws are not visible, color and cut are most important criteria when selecting your diamond.

No matter what diamond you pick it is sure to be one of the valuable pieces to your loved one. Find a jeweler you trust and let them guide you through your diamond purchase.