Of course the price will be one of the factors that will influence your decision of whether to buy a diamond or not, but it is not the only one. Not knowing anything about gems may make you buy one of an inferior quality. This is the reason why knowing the fundamental points needed when purchasing a diamond can help. These are the 4 Cs: Color, Cut, Clarity and Carat Weight.

Once you have learned the 4 Cs it will be easier for you to choose the right diamond. Here we have the 4 Cs explained in detail:

1. Color - or better, the lack of color in your gem. What you really have to look for is the whitest stone of all. A yellowish or grayish tone of diamond would be a diamond of inferior quality. You have grades of diamond going from A to Z. If the diamond is, say, a grade D, it means it is the whitest and one of the bests; if it is a grade Z, it will be very yellowish or brownish, and not so good. The way the majority of Gemologists verify the color quality is by comparing the diamond you have with one that has an already known grade.

2. Cut - not anyone can cut a diamond, the Gemologist that cuts it is giving a grade on this C! Hopefully, the one who does the cut for you will get an A, though. You will notice that if the cut is successful, the diamond will be more sparkling and shiny. A well-cut stone will release light that can form beautiful patterns. The wonderfulness and sloppiness of your diamond will depend on the degrees of the angles and the percentages of the dimensions. But take into account that oval or marquise diamonds have different cut standards because of their different shapes.

3. Clarity - inclusions and imperfections will determine the clarity of your diamond. The clarity of your gem can go from flawless to 13. By inclusions I mean a crack in the diamond, or any other piece of crystal trapped within the gem, or anything anomalous found under 10X magnification.

4. Carat Weight - it is measured by the diamond scale. It is like weighting the diamond in points: 100 points would be a full carat; 50 points would be a half carat diamond; and 25 points would be a quarter carat diamond.

Now that you know the 4 Cs, it would be easier for you to choose the right gem. However, do not doubt asking a gemologist whatever you want to know. The explanations of a specialist will lead you to a better understanding of the 4 Cs and to a better decision when buying a diamond.

About the author: Sintilia Miecevole, Proprietor, has a wealth of knowledge having worked in the diamond industry for several years. Her site, http://www.adiamondsite.com, is a huge resource for everything from buying and selling diamonds to cut, color, clarity, carat weight and pricing. Be sure to visit http://www.adiamondsite.com to check out diamonds.