The gold standard for the jewelry industry is accreditation from the American Gem Society and the Gemological Institute of America. Ask your jeweler if they have a Certified Gemologist Appraiser (CGA) on staff. CGAs have the equivalent of a PhD in this complex field.

A trusted jeweler can educate you about the 4 Cs. Finding a diamond within your price range is simple with the right balance of the 4 Cs.

Here taste and quality are everything. Finding a well-crafted ring, in the style you want, leaves lots of options on the table. Ask about custom design for a one-of-a-kind ring.

This is the best part. This once in a lifetime experience is a memory you’ll cherish forever.

Cut

“Cut” refers to the proportion and the arrangement of a diamond’s facets, and the specific quality of the workmanship.

Color

In the vast majority of diamonds, “color” actually refers to the absence of color. With diamonds, the less color in the stone the more valuable it is.

Clarity

This refers to the purity of a diamond. Are there inclusions or blemishes in the diamond? How many and how large?

Carat Weight

This is the category people seem most familiar with, the actual weight of a diamond. Generally, the greater the carat weight, the more expensive the diamond.