Many diamond shoppers go shopping before setting a budget and end up having an unsatisfied shopping experience. If money is not a problem, then setting a budget may not be that relevant but if it is, you should shop for diamonds smartly so that you get preferred stone without exceeding the budget.

Diamonds are priced based on their carat weight and color grades too. Many shoppers find it difficult to identify the difference between different color grades. If you invest in the lowest color grade that looks appealing, cheap prices on every carat will allow you to buy a bigger diamond in the same budget. Highest color grade include E, D and F that are categorized as colorless. The following color grades are G, H, J and I; are nearly colorless and can be bought at cheaper prices.

Smaller diamonds are cheaper to purchase as compared to single diamonds even with same carat weight. Buying three diamonds of around 0.50 will cost fraction of what you will have to pay for one diamond weighing 1.50 carats.

Every diamond has inclusions but the importance lies in checking them through your naked eyes. If the diamonds that are you are investing look clean to eyes, there is no point-paying extra for high clarity grades as they only add to the expense. Shape of your diamond can affect millimeter size of it. Buy the shape that you love but can also consider buying marquise, ovals, and pear that look bigger than the others shapes with the same carat weight.

Diamonds that are of same carat weight and shape can also differ. Cut influences the millimeter size too. Comparatively shallow diamonds are bigger in width and length. Go for such cuts that suit your budget. Type of settings for these diamonds also creates an impact on perceived size and their price. White gold settings for these diamonds can cost around one third of the platinum ones. Diamonds that have a pave around or the ones with bezel settings appear bigger.

While buying diamonds, choosing the right shape is crucial for determining its overall appearance in jewelry. Diamonds are available in a lot of variations and cuts in the market. Its shape is not just outward appearance but it also refers to how the stone is fashioned, how many facets it has. Knowledge about all the shapes can help you buy the right shape for yourself.

Round brilliant diamonds are one of the most popular ones and account for more than 75% of the diamonds that are purchased these days. Cost of these diamonds is high and is apt for engagement rings but they are found in pendants and earrings too. The brilliance and fire of these diamonds add to their popularity. Oval diamonds offer symmetrical designs yielding large surface areas and make it look bigger. These diamonds are preferred by the women who have short fingers and small hands as they give elongated look.

Princess cut diamonds are smallest of the diamonds and have inverted pyramid shape. In this shape, weight of carat is in the bottom side. It is one of the hot favorites as solitaires. Their shape is new as compared to all others. Marquise diamonds look larger than they are; this shape is elongated with the points on every end and is sometimes changed to French tip where the points are almost excised. It is also one of the great options for solitaire.

You can look for Emerald cut diamonds that appear rectangular with the corner cuts. This type of diamonds is also known as step cut due its shape that resembles a staircase. Open and large facets of this diamonds give it an imperative look with higher color and greater clarity. You can also buy pear shaped diamonds that look like a teardrop. Most of these diamonds are found in earrings and pendants. Brilliant cut heart shape diamonds are a perfect romantic choice but the shape can vary based on jewelry store you are buying it. This shape is greatly influenced by the configurations and whimsy of gem cutters.

Trillion cut diamonds are that with a triangular shape with equal sides. Use this shape for making a beautiful pair of earnings. Baguette cut diamonds another type of step cut diamonds that are frequently employed as the side stones. Because of limited number of facets, color and quality come to play, as imperfections are greatly visible in this simple shape. Radiant diamonds resembles the shape of emerald but has around 70 facets, making it more dazzling and brilliant that emerald shape.

Asscher cut diamonds are rectangular with the high crown step facets and are known for the ability to throw light. Cushion cut diamonds are other forms of diamonds that are referred to as pillow diamonds. This shape is elegant with a touch of old world. Trapezoid, Kite, and Half-Moon shaped diamonds are as that popular and are used as corner stones.

While buying diamond, one should always check the 4Cs that so that he/she does not end up being fleeced. 4Cs used for valuation of diamonds and refer to Color, Clarity, Cut, and Carat.

Cut plays an important role in deciding a diamond’s brilliance. Brilliant round diamonds have around 58 facets, 33 of them are on top of the diamond body. There are 24 crown or star facets at bottom, which are known as pavilion facets. Many times the line connecting pavilion and crown is faceted too but are not a part of round brilliance cut.

All the facets of a diamond should be in the geometrical relations with each other. You can be sure about the quality of diamond if you do not find any bow tie and fish eye in it. Due to fish eye, diamond looks larger and spread out but with lower brilliance. With bow ties, there is a black region formed on the diamond, making it undesirable.

Color is also an important determinant for finding the diamond’s worth. Colorless diamonds are of the highest value where traces of color depreciate its value. Most of the diamonds seem colorless to naked eye but majority of these diamonds have tint of brown and yellow when they are under illumination and Tripod. Nature diamonds are found in blue, red, deep yellow and green shades. These are also known as fancy colorful diamonds basing on alphabetical scale start from colorless D to yellow M.

Clarity of the diamonds is dependent on a number of factors including location, number, type, and size of inclusions. Inclusion is imperfection or the mineral traces in stone, visible only under magnification of the loupe of jeweler. Fewer inclusions in a diamond, better brilliance, and clarity it has. Fewer inclusions also mean higher prices.

Carat is another determinant for finding out diamond’s value. Weight of the diamonds is measured in carats. Every carat is further divided in the 100 points. A carat weight is not of any use without considering clarity, color, and cut of the diamonds. Large diamonds are not that worthy if they lack purity, better grade color, and brilliance. Since larger diamonds are rare to find as compared to the smaller ones, value of the diamond increases exponentially with the carat weight.

You will not find similarity between any two diamonds. You must find out their value on basis of 4Cs i.e. Cut, Clarity, Color, and Carat while doing diamond shopping.

Fluorescence is another characteristic of the diamond that should be considered before buying. It refers to the blue light, which is emitted by some of the diamonds under black UV lights. Some of the diamonds emit blue glow while some of them emit moderate glow and some don’t glow at all. Fluorescence is a complicated characteristic as it can either decrease or increase the worth of diamond. For the colorless diamonds from the scale of D, E, Fluorescence is not that beneficial but for the stones that have yellowish tinge as J, strong or medium Fluorescence help in making it appear white. Consider all the above stated factors and have a happy diamond shopping experience. You can avoid getting fleeced while make a huge investment in diamonds with the help of above stated characteristics.