Diamond Rings – symbols of love, romance, marriage, affluence, status. The diamond has the greatest refraction and dispersion of light of all the precious stones known to man. It is also the hardest substance known to man, natural or artificial.

Purchasing a diamond ring, for an engagement, a wedding, or as a surprise gift, usually involves much expense. It pays to know something about diamonds so you can make an intelligent choice.

As a first step familiarize yourself with these main factors which affect the value and price of diamond rings. Then go to the Diamond Ring Tutorial mentioned in the Resource box at the end of this article to continue your education.

Carat

Carat is the unit of measurement used to describe the weight of diamonds. As carat size increases, the diamond’s diameter and depth also increase.

Clarity

A diamond’s clarity rating is determined by the number of inclusions it has and how noticeable they are. Inclusions refer to tiny pinpoints, clouding, or markings on the diamond. The fewer the inclusions the more brilliant the diamond and of course the higher the value.

Color

Diamonds with less body color are more valuable as the reflection from them is more pure. A letter scale from D to Z is used to grade the color of diamonds, D being colorless through to Z which can include light yellow, brown or gray.

Cut

The cut of the diamond can have a major effect on how it reflects light. A shallow cut will allow light to escape through the sides whereas a deep cut will cause light to be lost through the bottom of the diamond. The more exacting the proportions of the cut, the more valuable the diamond is.

With that background consider now the shape you prefer. Is it Asscher, Cushion, Emerald, Heart, Marquise, Oval, Pear, Princess, Radiant, Round, or Trillion?