Shopping for a Diamond? Use this information to help make the best purchase decision. Most of this information is also available for downloading to your PalmPilot so you can have it at your fingertips while shopping.

Diamonds are graded in the US by the Gemological Institute of America (the GIA). The GIA was established in 1931 as the nonprofit educational resource for the gem and jewelry industry.

Diamonds are rated using the "4 C's":

• Carat Weight
  • Size is the most visible factor that determines the value of a diamond simply because larger stones are rarer than smaller ones. A diamond's size is established by measuring its weight in "carats". Each carat contains 100 "points" so you can describe a diamond as either 150-point or a 1.5 carat diamond.
• Color
  • A diamond's value increases dramatically with each level of color quality. Although many diamonds appear to be colorless, most contain tints of yellow or brown in varying degrees. Click HERE for more information.
• Cut
  • The brilliance of your diamond comes from the way it reflects light through its many faceted surfaces. Its value and beauty come from reflecting the maximum amount of light possible. There are six popular ways that diamonds are cut. Click HERE for more information.
• Clarity
  • With powerful magnification, you can find microscopic crystals or minerals (called "inclusions") inside almost every diamond, giving each diamond its own unique personality. The size and number of inclusions affect the value of the diamond, especially if they interfere with the light passing through it. Even though minute inclusions can reduce the cost of a diamond, they neither mar its beauty nor endanger its durability. Click HERE for more information.