When you are ready to purchase a loose diamond for an engagement ring (or for any piece of jewelry) you understand that the diamond is the most valuable part of the ring. That is why purchasing a loose diamond and having it placed in a setting of your choosing makes good sense. For that reason, purchasing a loose diamond just makes good sense. Many couples today are purchasing their diamond first and then choosing a setting that will best showcase the diamond's unique features (as well as the bride's taste). Chances are, this is your first attempt at purchasing a loose diamond. You can make it an exciting experience by familiarizing yourself with the facts about diamonds to prepare yourself to make a wise choice. Do your homework and learn all you can about diamond size, quality, and color. by starting with the basics. The four C’s: Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat weight make a great place to start. You might even be surprised to find that you enjoy learning more about diamonds in the process. Diamonds are perhaps the most treasured stones on earth, and each one has its own unique qualities. Finding the perfect diamond for your diamond engagement ring will mean much more when you feel confident that you've chosen a diamond that fits all your expectations. When it comes to the four C's, it's important to remember that each is individually graded for every diamond you view. A diamond's grade, based on the individual grades it receives in all four categories determines its value and price. You empower your own decision-making prowess when you understand the basics of evaluating a diamond's quality and thus put yourself at an advantage when it comes time to make a purchase. Cut A diamond's cut influences the diamond's appearance, and thus it is the most important characteristic in a diamond. Whether the stone is hand or machine cut further influences the stone's appearance and allure, as it creates the diamond's shape and facets. However, the cut of a diamond does not refer to its shape. Diamonds can be cut into a variety of shapes including pear, round, emerald, marquis or oval, while the cut of the diamond determines the amount of light reflected from the diamond. Color White (clear) is the diamond's most common color, with “color” relating to the diamond’s whiteness or absence of color. A color grade of D is the highest possible grade a diamond can have, while a grade of Z is the lowest. Clarity Most diamonds have inclusions, tiny imperfections or inclusions that occur within the diamond as it is forming. Most inclusions are not visible to the naked eye, and it is the number and size of the inclusions that determine a diamond's clarity. A FL or IF clarity grade is the highest (FL stands for flawless, IF stands for internally flawless). Flawless or internally flawless diamonds are extremely rare. Carat Carats refer to the units of weight used to measure a diamond's size, although carat weight does not always reflect in the actual size of the stone. Since the weight of a diamond isn’t always distributed evenly, sometimes a smaller brilliant cut diamond with a large surface may appear larger than another diamond that actually is larger. When you purchase a loose diamond, consider only a certified diamond. Certified loose diamonds have been graded by an independent third party laboratory to determine the stone’s quality based on universal, standardized criteria. The most widely accepted diamond certifications come from any one of the following:

• GIA - Gemological Institute of America
• IGI - International Gemological Institute
• AGS - American Gem Society
• EGL - European Gemological Laboratory
• HRD - Hodge Raad Voor Diamant
• GCAL - Gem Certification and Assurance Laboratory