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A good understanding of diamonds is necessary before you begin shoppping. We've 
put the basics together here to help guide you. Learning about diamonds is 
really learning about the "four Cs" of diamonds - cut, clarity, color and carat 
weight. These are the criteria jewelers use when grading diamonds, and they're 
the ones you'll need to understand to find the right diamond for you.
 
CutCut is probably the most important, and most challenging, of the four Cs to 
understand. The brilliance of a diamond depends heavily on its cut. gddiamond 
carries only the better grades of diamond cut, to ensure that your jewelry is as 
beautiful as possible. This guide will show you how to select a diamond with the 
best cut that your budget allows.
 
ClarityMost diamonds contain some inner flaws, or inclusions, that occur during the 
formation process. The visibility, number and size of these inclusions determine 
what is called the clarity of a diamond. Diamonds that are clear create more 
brilliance, and thus are more highly prized, and priced. This guide shows you 
how to find the best grade of clarity for you.
 
ColorColorless diamonds are the most desirable since they allow the most refraction 
of light (sparkle). Off white diamonds absorb light, inhibiting brilliance. To 
ensure that your gddiamond jewelry is of the highest quality, we've preselected 
our diamonds to eliminate those of lesser color grades. Read on to understand 
how color affects a diamond and how to choose the best grade for your budget.
 
Carat WeightA carat is the unit of weight by which a diamond is measured. Because large 
diamonds are found less commonly than small diamonds, the price of a diamond 
rises exponentionaly to its size. Read this guide to get a better understanding 
of what a carat is and how it affects the appearance of a diamond.
 
CertificatesThe diamond certificate, which is sometimes called a grading report, is a 
complete evaluation of your diamond that has been performed by a qualified 
professional with the help of special gemological instruments. Each stone bears 
its own recognizable, individual characteristics, which is listed on the 
certificate. This guide will help you understand why a certificate is so 
imporant when buying a diamond.
 By Ettagale Blauer |