Many diamond shoppers go shopping before setting a budget and end up having an unsatisfying shopping experience. If money is not a problem, then setting a budget may not be that relevant but if it is, you should shop for diamonds smartly so that you get your preferred diamond without exceeding the budget.

Diamonds are priced based on their 4 C's, and the character of the original diamond crystal created by Mother Nature.

Color - Many shoppers find it difficult to identify the difference between different color grades. If you invest in the lowest color grade that looks appealing, the lower rarity for that color will allow you to buy a bigger diamond in the same budget. The highest color grades - D, E, and F are categorized as colorless. The color grades  G, H, I and J are nearly colorless and can be purchased at lower prices.

Carat Weight - Several smaller diamonds are less rare when compared to a single diamond even with same carat weight. Buying three diamonds that weigh a total of 1.50 carats will cost a fraction of what you would have to pay for one diamond weighing 1.50 carats.

Clarity - Virtually every diamond has natural internal inclusions.  If the clarity of the diamond that are you are considering looks pleasant  to the naked eye, consider whether or not to pay extra for higher clarity grades that offer something that you can not see..

Cut - Diamonds that are of same carat weight and shape can also differ. Cut influences the dimensions of the diamond. Comparatively shallow diamonds are bigger in width and length. Diamonds that are cut deeply will be smaller in length and width.  The biggest influencers on the beauty and value of a diamond are cut and the character of the original diamond crystal before it was cut. An excellently cut diamond will look bigger and more colorless than a similar quality diamond that has a fair to poor cut.

Mother Nature - All natural diamond crystals were formed deep under the earth's surface in an environment of intense heat and pressure over 3 billion years ago. Nearly all of those crystals exhibit internal evidence of their stressful birth. It is the presence of these characteristics that explain why when observing two seemily identical diamonds one always looks prettier  than the other.

Use the 4 C's as a guide; trust your eyes; and buy from someone who is ethical, honest, and will be there when you need expert assistance.

While buying diamonds, choosing the right shape is crucial for determining its overall appearance in jewelry. Diamonds are available in a lot of variations and cuts in the market. Its shape is not just outward appearance but it also refers to how the stone is fashioned, how many facets it has. Knowledge about all the shapes can help you buy the right shape for yourself.

Round brilliant diamonds have the most popular shape and account for more than 75% of the diamonds that are purchased today. Mother nature's diamond crystals have a very special ability to play games with light. The diamond industry agrees that the brilliance and fire resulting from only the finest cut round diamonds add value to the gem.

The "Dream" is a square brilliant shape patented by a company called Hearts On Fire. It has the brilliance and fire of the finest cut round diamonds. It has cut corners and 70 facets.

Oval diamonds offer symmetrical designs yielding large surface areas and make it look bigger. These diamonds are preferred by the women who have short fingers and small hands as they give elongated look.

Princess cut diamonds appear the smallest of the diamond shapes. They have an have inverted pyramid shape and most of the weight of the diamond is in the bottom or pavillion portion of the gem. They have pointed corners and  may be square or rectangular in appearance, with the square shape being the most popular. The most perfectly cut princess diamond in all the world is called Fire Mark.

Marquise diamonds look larger than they are; this shape is elongated with the points on each end.

Emerald cut diamonds are rectangular with the cut corners. The style of cutting is called step cut due to the profile that resembles a staircase. The open and large facets of this shape make it wise for the buyer to select gems with higher color and greater clarity.

Pear shaped diamonds look like a teardrop. Most of these diamonds are found in earrings and pendants.

Brilliant cut heart shape diamonds are a symbolic choice and the shape can vary based on the configurations and whimsy of gem cutters.

Trillion cut diamonds are triangular in shape with equal sides. Jewelers use this shape most often as accent or side stones.

Baguette cut diamonds another type of step cut diamond that are also frequently employed as the side stones. Because of limited number of facets, color and quality come to play, as imperfections are greatly visible in this simple shape.

Radiant diamonds resembles the shape of emerald cut but has around 70 facets, making it more dazzling and brilliant that emerald shape.

Asscher cut diamonds are rectangular or square with the high crown step facets.

Cushion cut is another squarish shape that are referred to as pillow diamonds. This shape is elegant with a touch of old world.

Trapezoid, Kite, and Half-Moon shaped diamonds are other shapes that are used in designs as accent gems.

» Learn more about shapes

When buying diamond, one should always check the 4Cs. The 4Cs are used for the valuation of diamonds and are Color, Clarity, Cut, and Carat.

Cut plays the most important role in deciding a diamond's brilliance. Brilliant round diamonds have 57 to 58 facets, 33 of them are on top of the diamond body. There are 24 pavilion facets on the bottom of the gem. Many times the line or girdle between the top and the bottom of a diamond is faceted, however it does not affect brilliance and they are not counted as facets.

The diamond industry agrees that because of cutting, diamonds with the same color and clarity grades can vary in value by as much as 50% or more. The finest cut diamonds have perfect symmetry, perfect proportions, and perfect polish. It is agreed that diamonds cut to the highest standards deliver the greatest value and beauty.

The color grade of a diamond evaluates its body color when viewed from a bottom up position. Colorless diamonds are of the most rare in the "white" diamond category. While many diamonds may seem colorless to naked eye, the majority of diamonds have tint of brown,yellow  or grey. In nature, diamonds are also found in blue, red, deep yellow and green shades. These are known as fancy colored diamonds.

The clarity of a diamond is dependent on a number of factors including location, number, type, and size of inclusions. An inclusion is an imperfection or mineral trace in the gemstone. Most diamonds found in nature exhibit inclusions that are easily visible to the naked eye. The harder it is to see the inclusions, the more rare a diamond is. A "flawless" diamond is one that when examined under 10X magnification by a trained eye, no inclusions can be seen. Diamonds with a clarity grade of SI2 or better should not have inclusions that are visible to the naked eye when studying the diamond from a top up position.

Carat is another determinant for finding out a diamond's value. The weight of  diamonds is measured in carats. Every carat is further divided into 100 units per carat called points. Since larger diamonds are rare to find as compared to the smaller ones, the value of a diamond increases exponentially with the increase in carat weight.

» Learn more about the 4C's

Fluorescence is another characteristic of a diamond that should be considered before buying. It refers to the blue light, which is emitted by a rare number of  diamonds under black UV lights. Fluorescence is a complicated characteristic as it may or may not have an affect on the beauty of a diamond. For the colorless diamonds with grades of D, E, or F, fluorescence is not that beneficial, but for diamonds that have grades of I, J, or K, fluorescence may help in making them appear more white. Sometimes fluorescence may cause a diamond to look cloudy or not as crisp as a normal diamond.
» Learn more about the other characteristics