Diamond rings have always been associated with glamour and luxury as the jewel diamond is considered the most precious jewel of all time for women, and sometimes men. It isn’t surprising though, considering the price tag that comes with your purchase. So it’s completely understandable that you gather as much information as you can on diamonds before you make a decision. Traditionally there were only four Cs associated with diamond grading. However, more and more jewelers are adding a fifth C to make it easier for most people to choose the diamond rings that they want.

A diamond’s clarity is established through its inclusions and blemishes. The inclusions are internal irregularities while the blemishes are considered to be the surface flaws. Although diamonds are made out of pure carbon, sometimes, during the process, various minerals tend to mix, producing the inclusions and blemishes. The clarity of a diamond is determined through a 10x magnification by a certified diamond grader. The higher the clarity the more expensive a diamond ring will be. People tend to misconstrue carat as the diamond’s price value but the truth is a diamond’s carat signifies the gem’s measure of weight. Since large diamonds are rare compared to their smaller counterparts, the price of diamond rings which boast a higher carat also tend to become more expensive.

The perfect diamond rings are considered to be colorless. Although there are diamonds that have a hint of color in them, their prices tend to drop. Diamonds with a yellow tinge are cheaper and are given the lowest grade while diamonds that are colorless are given the highest marks. Perhaps the most essential yet the most difficult part to achieve is the perfect cut. How a diamond is cut can significantly affect its brilliance and its price value in the market. Poorly cut gems have the lowest grades while diamonds that are perfectly cut are given the highest marks by diamond grades. Typically, diamonds rings that showcase a perfectly cut diamond are also more expensive.

There are four C’s to note when choosing a pair of diamond earrings. These are important to note especially if it is the main or focal gem in your earring. The first C is “Cut”. Cut involves two factors: the shape of the diamond and the quality of the cut. Three of the most common are the brilliant cut, the princess cut and the emerald cut. The cut of the diamond will determine how brilliant its shine is and the higher the quality of the cut the higher the price will be. Less popular cuts like pear and emerald are often a bit cheaper because they are less in demand.

The second C is “Color”. Color varies because diamonds are a natural substance, they are not always crystal clear. They come in different colors yellow, pink and red, with the last two being the more expensive of all. Color is a very important factor in diamond earrings because the lighter the color the more they will sparkle and draw attention to your face.

The third C is “Clarity”. Clarity refers to the number of imperfections found in your diamond. Imperfections or inclusions affect the way light is reflected by the stone, so the clearer the gem, the more expensive it is. Most imperfections can only be seen at a very close distance, so you can save money on diamond earrings by finding a pair with a few imperfections.

The fourth C is “Carat”. Simply put carat refers to the size of the diamond with one carat equal to about 200 mgs. An honest diamond seller will have jewelry marked with ‘ct’ for carat or ‘ctw/tcw’ for total carat weight. When buying earrings with diamonds, look for the tcw. Diamond earrings are bought in pairs and so they should have two diamonds of equal size. Remember that each of the four C’s affect the diamond’s value in some way and that these four C’s are what the professionals look at. Now that you know about the four C’s you can ask professional questions before buying your diamond earrings.