How to Research Diamonds

Marilyn started it, Madonna cemented it: "Diamonds are a girl's best friend." Kanye took it to heart with a mouth full of diamonds, while DeBeers carries the message through with "A diamond is forever" in its ad campaigns. However you cut it, diamonds evoke images of beauty, engagements and luxury. Choose a diamond by knowing the four "C's": cut, clarity, color and carat.

• 1

  Research the cut of the diamond by reviewing information found on the Gemological Institute of America's Web site. Learn about the various cuts of diamonds, such as round, marquise, princess, radiant, pear, oval or emerald shape. Discover the difference between the grades of cut, which range from the best--an ideal cut, to the worst--a low-grade cut.

• 2

  Notice the color within the stone. Review the material on the site to recognize the range of color ratings for diamonds. A "D" rating indicates no color, which is considered perfect. Ratings of "G" "H" or "I" give the appearance of being colorless. Ratings of "J", "K", "L", or "M" indicate a faint yellow tint, which is undesirable in a white diamond. Color ratings are not applied to blue or pink diamonds, which are extremely rare.

• 3

  Examine the clarity of the diamond from 11 different grades. Identify the clarity range from flawless, FL, to S11 or S12, which is flawless to the naked eye. Skip a diamond of grade 12 or 13 for an engagement ring, as these lower grades are more prone to chipping due to structural flaws.

• 4

  Choose your carat size. Understand that carats indicate the size of the diamond and that one carat contains 100 points. Know that a 1/4-carat or 0.25-carat diamond is approximately 4.1 millimeters wide.

• 5

  Calculate the weight of your diamond. Evaluate the weight to the fifth decimal place. Realize that it is the "carat weight" that determines the size of the diamond, not the actual weight.