The 4 C's!!!

The most important point to remember about choosing an engagement ring is the 4 C's!!!! The 4 C's are cut, color, clarity, and carat; these actually relate to the diamond, not the entire ring. The 4 C's determine the actual quality of the diamond. Instead of explaining each of these together, I am going to avoid confusion and first focus on the cut of the diamond. Contrary to popular belief, the larger the diamond does NOT necessarily mean the ring is more expensive or has better quality. Cut does not represent shape of the diamond; it involves symmetry, proportions, finish, and polish. The cut of a diamond ring is the only "C" that is actually created by human hands; all remaining C's are found naturally in the environment. The cut of a diamond is the most important C; therefore, the value of the diamond is mostly determined by the cut. For an ideal cut, light should be reflected only through the top of the diamond. This is called the brilliance of the diamond. An ideal cut diamond is called a brilliant cut; light is reflected directly through the top. A premium but has slight variations in light and inferior cuts are cut either too deep (light is reflected through the sides of the diamond) or too shallow (light is reflected through the bottom). Finally, the cut of the ring should be symmetric; this means if a ring was sliced down the center, it would appear the same on both sides. A perfect cut diamond has about 58 facets (the diamond shape on the surface). Finally, brilliance and size do NOT come hand in hand. To increase the brilliance, more of the diamond must be cut away, creating a smaller size. Also, the larger the diamond, the more brilliance is lost.