Ready to purchase an engagement ring? There are a few important things you should know before hitting the jewelry stores... They are frequesntly referred to as the " four c's "

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The Four C's
- WAV girl

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CUT
COLOR
CLARITY
CARAT
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Cut

This is a great place to start. Once you know what type of cut you're looking for in a diamond, you can start to search for a great bargain in that category. There are a few main diamond cuts out there that you will see:
1. Round Brilliant
The most popular, as well as the best value. This simple round diamond cut is a great choice if you are looking for something simple yet elegant at a good price.
2. Marquise
This oval-shaped cut is also among the most popular. They are a shape similar ro that of a football. They are wider and longer than round brilliant cuts, which make them seem larger, but are actually more flat.
3.Other Specialty cuts
If you are looking for something very elaborate and elegant and are willing to pay a higher pirce, there are other "fancy cut" stones available at many jewelery stores. Such stone cuts include the emerald, pear, and princess cuts.

Color

Diamond color is rated in a scale from D-Z. Sounds simple right? Well, not exactly, but I'll explain it to you simply.

D-F : You will rarely see diamonds available in this category! These diamonds are considered to be colorless, but try moving down a group... That's where the value's come in!
G-J : Most diamonds are sold in this range. They are graded as "slightly tinted", but this color cannot be seen by the naked eye.
K-M : These diamonds have more visibly marked color, but some may still look great if you are buying a small stone. Another key point to remember us that if you choose to buy from this category, the set you put it in will reflect how much the color shows up. For example, put these stones on a very nice yellow gold setting, NOT a white platinum setting where the color will be more noticeable!
N-Z : I personally would not recommend going with these grades of diamonds. The color simply becomes more and more dramatic.

Clarity

Mainly jewelery stores have diamonds categorized as "1" and "2" factors, which are referred to as "very slight imperfection". Although this may not sound very appealing, don'tworry. These "so-called slight "imperfections" are difficult to find even under a 10x microscope. If you stay within this range for your ring, you'll find a beautiflu diamond at a great value.

Carat

This is where your price range is going to become very important. Don't assume that a bigger stone is always better! A 1/2 carat good quality stone is always better than a big ugly 2 carat stone that is full of flaws. You might settle for a 1 carat, which I feel is a perfect size for a solitaire. Or, a 1/2, 1/3, even a 1/4 are very nice as well. But I would not recommend going any lower than that if you are purchasing a solitaire. Above all, don't listen to those TV ads that tell you how much you should spend on a diamond. If yuo find a great value, feel free to purchase it! It doesn't have to be 2 month's salary, or even one for that matter... It all depends on how much you make I guess. :)

A FINAL NOTE

Lastly, if you are purchasing your diamond specifically from a jeweler, it is worth getting it certified for the extra $60 or so. Also, don't forget that the warranty is a must because who knows.... anything can happen to a ring that is worn every day for a lifetime! Enjoy your shopping!
- Laura