| You have decided to take the big step, make the | | | | The idea is to pick a diamond that is clear to the |
| plunge, pop the question and any other analogy you | | | | naked eye, it might have some imperfections that |
| can think of to ask your significant other to marry | | | | you need to see under a microscope, but this allows |
| you. Chances are if you are reading this then you | | | | you to move down the clarity scale, reducing the |
| some assistance and/or advice on buying the right | | | | cost, so you can use that money in your budget in |
| diamond. | | | | either the size or the color. |
| This will be one of the more emotional purchases you | | | | The cut represents the shape of the diamond, and |
| will ever make in your life. I know, I have been there. | | | | depending on whethere it is customized or not, it |
| The key for me was doing my homework, setting a | | | | may drive up the cost. However if you go with one |
| budget and sticking with it. | | | | of the basic cuts, such as round, princess, oval or |
| So the first piece of advice I can give is set a | | | | round, the cost should not increase by that much, if |
| budget. Most diamond sellers, jewelery stores say to | | | | at all. |
| use a quarter of a year`s salary...or something along | | | | Finally, last but certainly not least, but last for a |
| those lines. As a person who has made this purchase, | | | | reason, the carat or the size of the diamond. All the |
| set a price YOU feel comfortable with, not the | | | | four C`s figure into the cost of the diamond, |
| jewelry stores. | | | | however none figure more than its size. It goes |
| The next thing you need to know are the four C`s. | | | | without saying, that the larger the diamond the more |
| They are cut, clarity, color and carat. The color is a | | | | it will cost. |
| simple one. You want to get to as close to white as | | | | You and only you alone can make the determination |
| possible and as far as you can from yellow. The color | | | | of where your diamond budget will be spent. If size |
| scale is as follows, D,E,F are colorless, G,H,I,J are | | | | matters (no jokes here please), then you will need |
| considered near colorless and K-M and N-Z which | | | | sacrifice some color and clarity if you need to fit it |
| have noticeable color. Obviously the more white the | | | | within your budget. If size isn`t important but the |
| diamond is the higher the cost will be. | | | | clearness and the radiance of the diamond as it |
| The clarity represents the scale of imperfection a | | | | shines off the lights is more important, then you can |
| diamond might have. The scale ranges from `FL`,`IF` | | | | sacrifice the size and look for a diamond higher on |
| (flawless,internall flawless) to `I3` (included). The | | | | the clarity and color scales. Good luck in your |
| diamond should look clean to the eye, and have as | | | | purchase, and for your future. |
| little imperfections under a microscope as possible. | | | | By: Michael C. |
| The more clear the diamond is the more it will cost. | | | | |