This is the age old saying and the slogan for many popular diamond makers, "Diamonds are forever". Maybe so, but is every diamond created equal to each other? Absolutely not! When it comes time to shop for a diamond engagement ring you should be looking for four specific characteristics. Combined these characteristics will help you in determining the overall quality of the diamonds. Which means you will have the ability to base your decision on quality than the look of the diamond.

First thing you should be looking for is the diamond's color. We may think of diamonds as white, but they do pick up different color tones, when formed, when carbon mixes with other elements such as boron or nitrogen. Because of this some diamonds will have a blue or yellow tint upon them. If you are lucky enough to find a diamond that is colorless, you should be prepared to pay big money for it.

The second thing you should be looking for is the weight in karats. The karat will not only tell you the weight of the diamond, but also how big it is. To determine this you should know what karat means. A one karat diamond weights 1/142 of an ounce or 1/5 of a gram.

Next, be looking for the diamond cut. This is in relation to the finish, symmetry, and proportion of the diamond, or the polish. The cut of the diamond will tell you just how much light it will reflect. The more sparkle and light it catches the better the cut.

Finally, you should be looking for the diamond clarity. This means you should know what flaws the diamond does or does not have. If there are any instances of blemishes on the outer area of the diamond or if the interior has spots that are colored, white, or black or any cracks within it, the diamond lacks clarity. The blemishes generally occur during the process of polishing and cutting. In some instances, filing and laser treatments can fix these flaws, which will increase the clarity of the diamond.

So, there you have it, the four characteristics you should be looking for in a diamond. The better the diamond quality the more expensive it will be. Make sure you do your homework and research to find a reputable jeweler that will give you only the best quality diamond for the price. It is important to remember that quality and beautiful diamonds do not have to be extremely expensive, but the better the diamond the higher the price.