Maybe you want perfection on all levels. Cut, clarity, color and of course carat (the weight). He will give an hour long of advice that helps the customer be less intimidated by this very important purchase they are considering. How to Buy Diamonds "It's important to do your homework before purchasing a diamond" my husband will inform his customers when they walk into our family owned jewelry store in Thousand Oaks California. Then you will pay a higher price.

Taking the time to sit with your jeweler to discuss your options is important and your local jeweler will more likely be better informed than the mall retail store you might consider at first. You might want a great clarity and a smaller carat size, or you're willing to sacrifice the color to have the larger rock. So there is a lot to consider indeed.

The 4 C's as known through out the industry are. Knowing the four C's of Diamond is a good basic start.

For example, often we will recommend a 1.90ct stone over a 2.0ct as the size difference will not show that much but the price will significantly be lesser even if the quality grade of the rest of the "c's" remain the same.