A diamond is absolutely unique. As the centerpiece of engagement and other diamond rings, it has a very special meaning. But how do you actually select a diamond? And why is it crucial to get informed prior to purchasing?

In this article, you'll learn how to choose the right diamond. Below each paragraph, you'll find useful links with further information.

Buying a diamond: This is why you should inform yourself

A diamond (ring) is always a very special, non-every-day investment. Understandably, most people don't possess profound knowledge when it comes to diamond buying and do not know what to keep an eye on. However, getting the right information priorly will save you a lot more money than time spent.

If you inform yourself properly, you can

correctly asses a diamond's value
find the best and biggest diamond in your budget
avoid overpaying
find a similar diamond for less money

1. Educate yourself

A diamond's quality is determined along with four main quality criteria: The 4C.

Carat weight: Weight (and size) of the diamond
Color: How colorless is the diamond? (Fully transparent vs. yellow tint)
Clarity: Is the diamond impeccable or stained with inclusions?
Cut: How well was the diamond cut?

It's a common misperception that carat weight is the only thing that matters with diamonds. But that is wrong! Apart from carat, the other 3C significantly influence a diamonds value and therefore price. This is why sometimes, two diamonds of the same carat weight may have dramatically different prices.

→ Carat weight and diamond size
→ Same carat weight, different price

Color

The color scale actually measures the absence of color and reaches from D-Z. While diamonds of color grade "D" are absolutely colorless, a yellowish tint is visible in "Z" color diamonds. However, differences between the upper grades of the scale are hardly detectable.

As a rule of thumb: From grade D-G, no tint is noticeable. By selecting color grade G, you can safe a lot of money compared to grades D-F. Of course, such diamonds are a very special option for true connoisseurs.

→ Diamond Color

Clarity

Diamonds consist of a single element, which is carbon. Under extreme pressure and heat, carbon transforms into diamond over hundreds of years. However, it never occurs that every single carbon molecule is transformed: So-called inclusions will remain inside the diamond. These little flaws make diamonds truly unique and are the reason why no diamond is like the other. The clarity scale measures the absence of such inclusions and reaches from F for flawless to I for included.

Here too, differences between the upper grades of the scale are barely or not at all visible to the naked eye. Up until a carat weight of 1ct, a clarity grade of SI2 will suffice: No carbon inclusions are visible in such diamonds without a microscope. Only when the carat weight exceeds 1ct, you should go a few grades up the clarity scale.

→ Diamond Clarity

Cut

Diamonds are cut into numerous shapes: Round, oval, pear-shaped and so on. Rather than its shape, the quality of a diamond's cut is crucial for its price: Only if all proportions are perfect, a diamond will radiate maximum sparkle.

Thanks to modern techniques, there aren't many flaws to most diamonds' cuts. This is why mostly only the abbreviations for color and clarity will be given in a diamond's description. In order to get more information on the stone's cut, have a look at its GIA certificate.

→ Diamond cut

2. Setting priorities

Next, you'll have to set your priorities. What's your objective when choosing your diamond?

If you have a fixed budget

Biggest diamond within a fixed budget
Diamond with the best quality within a fixed budget

If you have certain expectations

Biggest diamond for the lowest price
Diamond in a particular size
Best quality possible

With the help of the filters on the "Choose your diamond" page (step 2 after having chosen a setting), you will find the diamond that matches your expectations perfectly.

Try now: Choose setting and then proceed to diamond selection

3. Find the right trade-off between the 4C

How to find the biggest diamond within a fixed budget

The higher the carat-weight, the bigger the diamond. If your objective is to find the biggest diamond within your budget, carat-weight your main priority.

Set the price filter to your personal budget.
Set the sorting on highest prize first
As we've learned, a diamond's price is determined not only by carat-weight, but also color, cut* and clarity. Therefore,
set the filter "Color" on G/H and
set the "Clarity" filter on VS1-2.
Now, select the diamond with the highest carat-weight.

Tip: A halo of little brillants around the middle stone makes the central diamond appear even bigger. → View diamond rings with a halo

* Thanks to modern techniques, almost all diamonds comply with high cut standards. This is why there is no cut filter available. However, you may look up your diamond's cut grade in its GIA-certificate.

Diamond with the best quality within a fixed budget

In this case, price is the main criterion.

Set the price filter to your personal budget.
Sort by highest price first (button is at the top right)
Select the diamond that ranks highest in carat-weight, color and clarity

Tip: For orientation purposes, you can see all three of these scales at the bottom of this page.

Biggest diamond for the smallest price

In this case, carat-weight is your top priority. In order to find the biggest diamond for at the smallest expense possible, you'll have to compromise concerning color and clarity.

This is how:

Set the color filter to G-H (or even lower): If a diamond is less heavy than 1 carat, the yellowish tint in such stones ranking at the lower end of the color scale is not as easily detectable. Down until color grade G, a yellow tint is barely recognizable. If you chose a yellow gold setting for your stone, you may even select a color grade H. If you do not value diamond transparency as much, you might even opt for a lower color grade. However, our general recommendation is to choose color grade G or above.
Set the clarity filter to VS1-2 (or even lower): A diamond's clarity is affected by the tiny impurities within it. However, these flaws are often hardly recognizable without a magnifying glass. This is why for diamonds below 1ct, you may choose a diamond of a clarity grade until VSI2. If you don't value diamond clarity highly, you may even choose a stone below this recommended clarity grade.

Click sort by lowest price first
Select color grade G/H
Select clarity grade VSI1-2
Select the diamond with the highest carat-weight
If the diamonds shown do not meet your carat-weight expectations, lower the color and clarity grade further

Tip:

If your diamonds is set in yellow gold, you may opt for a lower color grade: A yellow tint will not be as apparent as in a white golden setting
The princess-cut is a good cut for concealing impurities.
Open a diamond's certificate by clicking the GIA button in the diamond view. For bigger stones, the certificate will show the exact location of impurities.

Diamond in a certain size

In this case, carat-weight is your top priority. The objective is finding a diamond that matches your carat-weight expectations, but also balances color, clarity and the budget aspect.

Set the carat-weight filter to the desired level.
Sort by highest price. The diamonds now shown are the ones that correspond to the carat-weight you've set and also rank highest in color and clarity grades.
Scroll down the page until you find a diamond with a price you are comfortable with.
We recommend a color grade of G or higher and a clarity grade of VSI2 or higher.

Diamond with the best quality possible

If quality is your number one priority, the main focus is on color and clarity.

Set the filter "Color" on D, E, F
Set the filter "Clarity" on F, IF or VVS1-2
Sort by highest price
Scroll down the page until you find a diamond with a price you are comfortable with.
Check the diamond's GIA-certificate (via clicking the GIA button in the diamond view) for an excellent cut grade

Tip:

Little impurities are hardly visible with the bare eye. If your diamond does not exceed a weight of 1 carat, you may select the second highest clarity grade.

This is what you need to look out for no matter what

Please buy certified diamonds only! It's the only way to make sure the quality details given are correct. Further, a certificate insures the diamond's ethical mining.

→ Why do I need a diamond certificate?

Try it out!

My Diamond Ring gives you the opportunity to select the diamond for your ring yourself. You've read above how to save money or get more for your budget this way! Click and have a look at our ring configurator to try it out yourself: Select a design of your choice, click "choose diamond" and then play with the different diamond filters.

Popular links: