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Choosing a beautiful diamond involves narrowing down your shape and selecting high-quality options for the 4Cs — without overpaying. You'll then compare individual diamonds to see which one offers you the most brilliance and fire. Follow our step-by-step guide below to find a stunning diamond while staying within your budget.
Choose Your Diamond Shape
The shape of your diamond is the launching point of your ring's design. No shape is better than the other—it's up to your personal preference (or your partner's). Round Brilliants are the most popular diamond shape for engagement rings and give off the most brilliance. Others prefer a more unique shape like a Cushion Cut or an Oval. If you're unsure what your partner prefers, you can ask her family and friends.
Select Your Carat Weight
Is your fiance-to-be expecting a 1 or 2 carat diamond? Are you looking for a stone that's noticeable but not over the top? Choose the carat weight range you're open to considering, such as a 0.95 to a 1.08 Carat diamond. As carat weight increases, so does the price.
Narrow Down on Cut Quality
The aspect that most greatly impacts a diamond's beauty is its cut quality. Cut grades aren't standardized across all vendors, but in general, we recommend only Excellent and Ideal cut diamonds.
Determine Color Grade Range
The goal with diamond color is to choose a diamond that appears white. But you don't need to pay for a D or E diamond to get a colorless stone. In general, diamonds in the G to I range appear white but cost far less. It is important to remember that different shapes reflect color at different strengths, so your choice of optimal color will depend greatly on what diamond shape you've chosen.
Select Clarity Grade
For Clarity, you should look for a diamond that's eye clean, meaning you can't see any blemishes or inclusions with the naked eye. Depending on the shape, you can usually find an eye-clean diamond in the VS1--VS2 range. There's no need to pay for a FL or IF diamond when you can get a lower graded diamond for much less.
Compare Similar Diamonds
Once you've narrowed down your preferred specs for a diamond, compare similar stones to determine which one to buy. You'll want to consider aspects like how brilliant the diamond is, if it's eye-clean, and what the price is.
Verify the Certificate
The shape of your diamond is the launching point of your ring's design. No shape is better than the other—it's up to your personal preference (or your partner's). Round Brilliants are the most popular diamond shape for engagement rings and give off the most brilliance. Others prefer a more unique shape like a Cushion Cut or an Oval. If you're unsure what your partner prefers, you can ask her family and friends.
