When you are shopping for a diamond ring the first thing you need to do is set your budget. This should be decided before you enter any jewelry shop or a store. So set the amount and do not spend more then you can afford. Once you have your budget set you need to know a few basics before you go shopping. A diamond’s quality is determined by four factors; carat, clarity, cut and color.

Carat is the standard unit of weight for diamonds, one hundred points equals one carat.

Cut is the make of the diamond, and refers to the properties of a finished diamond.

Color is another way a diamond’s quality is judged, the less color in a diamond the more quality the stone. Although there are Red and Pink diamonds that are often referred to as Fancy Color Diamonds.

Clarity refers to the number of blemishes in a diamond, obviously the fewer flaws in a diamond the higher the quality.

When you do find the right diamond for you be sure that you get the certificate for your diamond. These papers will give you a map of the inclusions and flaws that your diamond ring contains. You want to look at your diamond with the jeweler’s loupe and check it to be sure you are getting what you are paying for. The jeweler can help you out with this. Most importantly, this certificate values your stone and gives you both the ownership and authenticity of the diamond.