Before you head to the jewelers to pick out an engagement ring, necklace, or bracelet, you need to make sure you know some basic diamond jewelry tips. Buying diamond jewelry is not as simple as buying a gold chain or a simple gemstone. You need to educate yourself a little about real diamond jewelry in order to choose the best possible piece for the one you care about.

The Four C's of Real Diamond Jewelry

Many people talk about the "four C's" of buying diamond jewelry. These are cut, carat, clarity, and color. Understanding these will help you find the perfect piece of diamond jewelry that fits your wallet and your ideals.

The Cut of Diamond Jewelry

The cut of your diamond jewelry refers to the way the gem is cut. Different cuts "sparkle" better than others because they let light in at the right angles to really shine. If you are shopping for someone else, you may want to take her with you to get an idea about the cut she prefers for diamond jewelry.

Some people are opting for rough diamond jewelry instead of cut pieces. Rough diamond jewelry places the gem in a ring or necklace exactly as it was found in the diamond mine. While rough diamond jewelry does not sparkle as much as cut diamond jewelry, it is the only way to get a truly unique piece because no two raw diamonds are exactly alike.

The Carat of Diamond Jewelry

After you have decided on a cut, the next step in choosing diamond jewelry is deciding on the carat. This is the weight of the diamond. The larger the carat, the larger the diamond. Of course, real diamond jewelry that has a huge carat weight is going to cost more that jewelry that has a smaller stone. If you want to buy diamond jewelry with a large carat weight but still save money, consider shopping for a piece that has several smaller stones, rather than one large stone. The larger each individual stone in a piece of diamond jewelry, the more expensive it will be.

Diamond Jewelry Clarity

When you buy diamond jewelry, clarity refers to the absence or presence of flaws in the diamond. Perfect clarity is rare, but the better stones will have few flaws in them. This is important in buying real diamond jewelry because flaws can cut down on the beauty of the stone. One flaw to watch for, when purchasing diamond jewelry is the fracture. Fractures in the wrong place can cause the stone to split.

Flaws in diamond jewelry can be either exterior flaws or interior flaws (inclusions). Diamond jewelry clarity is given a rating based on the following scale:

•  Fl - Completely Flawless (no inside or outside flaws - almost impossible to find)
•  IF - Internally Flawless (very rare)
•  VVS1, VVS2 - Very, Very Slightly Included (almost impossible for a jeweler to see)
•  VS1, VS2 - Very Slightly Included (even jewelers can barely see the flaws)
•  SI1, SI2 - Slightly Included (experienced jewelers notice these flaws)
•  I1, I2, I3 - Obvious inclusions (these may affect the sparkle of the diamond jewelry)

The Color of Diamond Jewelry

Finally, you must consider the color of the diamond. While most people think of white stones when buying diamond jewelry, the stones actually come in a wide range of colors. For something fairly unique, consider purchasing black diamond jewelry. These can make a stunning display when mounted next to white diamonds. Other than black diamond jewelry, most colored diamond jewelry has a yellowish tint. If you choose to buy colored diamond jewelry rather than white stones, you still need to shop for a stone with excellent clarity and the right carat weight.

Keep in mind that some colored diamond jewelry is not colored naturally. For instance, orange diamonds can occur naturally, but they are extremely rare and excessively expensive. New treatment processes allow jewelers to alter the colors of some diamonds to provide a more affordable way to create brilliantly colored diamond jewelry. If you want natural diamond jewelry, be sure to ask your jewelry how the stone was colored. Keep in mind that some treatments will fade, so your brilliantly colored stone may not retain its brilliance over the years.

The color of white diamond jewelry is graded using letters. If you are looking for a white stone, choose diamond jewelry with a color value of D, E, or F. these are expensive, and if budget is a concern you can buy G, H, I, or J without seeing too much of a tint in the stone.

If you can remember the four C's, you will not need any other diamond jewelry tips. Remember, do your homework before you buy, and have fun. Soon you will have a treasured piece of diamond jewelry that will sparkle brilliantly for many years.

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