An introduction to diamonds

Carat Weight

Clarity

Color

Shapes of diamonds

Cut

Next steps, tips

Diamonds:

A step by step guide

	Learn as much as you can about diamonds. By reading this Diamond Tutorial in its entirety, you will learn about the "4 C's", how to judge cuts, what questions to ask your jeweler, how to select a setting, and lots of other important topics. An informed consumer is a smart consumer. Invest the time, do your research, and enjoy the best diamond jewelry for your money.
	Find the right jeweler, right in your neighborhood. We have already done extensive research on the jewelers in many U.S. cities. Simply Begin Your Search to discover the reputable jewelers in your neighborhood. Our diamond jewelers are tested to ensure they deliver the highest level of integrity, customer service, selection, quality, and product knowledge, all at the most competitive prices.
	Buy it! - Once you're armed with information about diamonds and a jeweler you can trust, your special purchase becomes easy and safe.

The Tutorial

The purpose of our tutorial is twofold:

1. To give you a quick, solid education on the basics of diamonds, and

2. To guide you through the selection and purchasing process.

You should plan on spending about 30 minutes on the tutorial. If you're considering purchasing a diamond, this will be time well spent.

If you're in a hurry or just need a quick summary on a given topic, just look for the bolded text near the bottom of most tutorial pages for the "quick and dirty" scoop on each topic!

First Step: The "4 Cs"

The quality of a diamond is determined by four factors commonly known as the "4 Cs" -- Carat Weight, Clarity, Color, and Cut. We will describe each of the "4 Cs" throughout the tutorial.

Beware of "Cut"! The other 3 Cs are very straightforward; however, the difference between a "great" cut, a "good" cut, and a "bad" cut can be subtle to the untrained eye, but it will make a huge difference in terms of the value and beauty of the stone. An unscrupulous jeweler will sell you a heavy stone with superb clarity and color for an unbelievably low price and still make a substantial profit, if the 4th "C" -- the Cut -- is inferior.

This tutorial will go through each "C" in detail, including "Cut". If at a later time you need a quick reference on any of these topics, use the menu on the left side of your browser window to jump directly to the information you need.

Click on "Continue to Carat Weight" below to begin learning about the first "C" -- Carat Weight.

Continue to Carat Weight