If you are looking for diamond jewelry, there is no shortage of exquisite designs.  Whether you want a simple ring for everyday use, or an expensive brooch for that special occasion, there is a diamond to suit your needs.  Diamond jewelry and accessories are available in a plethora of attractive styles and colors. Their rarity, beauty and durability make them a popular choice among both sexes.

The diamond has an intriguing history.  In India, some 3000 years ago, it was first appreciated for its ability to refract light.  Later, people used them for adornment and also as a charm to ward off evil.  For a period during the Dark Ages, the diamond was used to treat illnesses and injuries. Some believed that if you held a diamond in one hand and made a sign of the cross with the other, that you would be healed.  It wasn’t until the Middle Ages that people became more aware of the diamond’s value rather than its alleged “mystical” powers.

In today’s society, the diamond satisfies the various needs of both traditional and modern individuals. However, when it comes to choosing a piece of diamond jewelry, it is important to know a few factors.  For instance, the price will vary in accordance with the essential “4 C’s,”.  This is how a diamond’s cost is determined.  Cut, clarity, color and carat weight are the quality elements that determine its value. So what do these elements mean?

1. Cut – This refers to the proportions, finish, symmetry and polish of the diamond.   The highest quality diamonds are well cut and will sell for a premium price, while a badly cut stone will be sold for a discount. How can one tell if a diamond is well cut? Nowadays, it’s very simple.  Modern technology can determine the cut of a diamond by use of an advanced, high precision system called the Dia-mension system.  It offers superior accuracy for the measurement of polished and semi-polished diamonds.

2. Clarity – It describes the diamond’s purity and brilliance. Every diamond is unique.  None are completely flawless, even though a rare few come close.  A diamond’s clarity is determined by its number of external blemishes and internal inclusions.

3. Color – Diamonds are valued by how close they come to being colorless.  The less color it has, the higher the value.  Most jewelry store diamonds are either colorless or near colorless; some with bits of brown or yellow.  Exceptions to this rule are the fancy-color diamonds, like pink, blue, violet, and so on.  Fancy diamonds have a deep, distinct natural color, and therefore, unlike the regular colorless stones, they are valued for their color.

4. Carat Weight – Diamonds are weighed using metric carats.  One carat weighs about as much as a little paper clip or 0.2 grams.  In the diamond industry exact precision is crucial since even a fraction of a carat can make a huge difference in cost.

Buying that special diamond basically comes down to a compromise between the 4 Cs and what factors you consider to be the most important to you. For instance, you may decide on a larger, lower color stone or prefer a smaller, high color cut one with good clarity.  Either way, once you know how diamonds are graded, it will be much easier for you to make your selection.