Whether you're planning to become engaged, or you're just
buying a gift for that special someone, diamonds are a
lovely, traditional choice. You've heard that "Diamonds are
forever," but how do you choose a diamond that your beloved
will want to keep forever. There are several factors
affecting diamond quality, often called the four Cs: cut,
carat, color, and clarity.

A diamond can be cut into any shape. That is to say, its
cut is not the same thing as its shape. The desired effect
of the cut is that the maximum amount of light is reflected
back from the diamond. By polishing and grinding flat
panes, called facets, the diamond's sparkle, brilliance,
and fire are established. These three aspects of the
diamond determine how much and how well the diamond
shimmers and reflects light.

Carat is a word that we are probably all familiar with;
however, most people don't understand what it means. Carat
is actually a measure of weight, NOT size. It does,
however, relate to size. One carat is divided into 100
points and a 1.00-carat diamond weighs .20 grams. Thus, a
half-carat diamond is equal to 50 points. Although we hear
this term most often, this is not necessarily the most
important as a diamond cut for beauty may weigh less
instead of more.

Color. The majority of diamonds range in color from near
colorless to very light yellow or brown. Yes, a diamond can
be brown. However, it can also range in color from pink to
blue or green. Actually, every diamond has a color and that
color is a partial determinant of shimmer and shine. The
more color a diamond has, the less it will seem to shine.
The reason for this effect is that color blocks some of the
light from passing through the stone. The more colorless
the diamond, the more light can pass through the stone,
creating a maximum brilliance. In addition to being very
rare, their brilliance is why colorless diamonds have
greatest value.

Clarity is probably the least-heard term before you begin
shopping for a diamond. Most diamonds contain inclusions,
tiny natural birthmarks, which are not usually visible to
the eye but can be seen with magnification. Inclusions
affect the dispersion of light and affect a diamond's
brilliance. Less expensive stones often have more and/or
larger inclusions.

When choosing your diamond, remember to ask about all
these aspects of the stones. They work together to create
either dull diamonds or those with extraordinary brilliance
and sparkle - diamonds that will be cherished forever.

Rene Beckett is a contributing author to <a
href="http://felizjewelry.com">News about Jewelry</a> the
favorite resource letter about jewelry.  Visit
http://www.felizjewelry.com/ for additional articles by
Rene.

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