Before you start shopping for that special diamond, you should have an understanding of what you're buying. This guid e simplifies the four C's of diamonds — cut, color, clarity, and carat weight, so you can select your diamond based on the same criteria jewelers use to grade them. Click here for Greg's explanation of the 4 C's so you can get the best value for your money.
The cut of a diamond has the most effect on its sparkle, or brilliance. Even if the diamond has perfect color and clarity, a poor cut can make a diamond look dull. For the most sparkle, learn how to choose the right diamond cut with the most brilliance for your budget.	Diamonds with very little color are the most highly valued and are priced accordingly. Even a small amount of color can diminish a diamond's brilliance. Learn how to choose a diamond with no color noticeable to the unaided eye.
Diamonds with few flaws, or inclusions, are very rare and highly valued. Clarity is graded based on the number, location, size, and type of the inclusions found in a diamond. Carbino's diamond center offers some of the clearest diamonds available. Learn how to choose the right grade of clarity for your diamond.	The weight of a diamond is measured in carats. Since larger diamonds are more rare than smaller diamonds, diamond value tends to rise with carat weight. Read more about carat weight and learn how to balance diamond quality with the size of your diamond.