When you go to buy an engagement ring, you aren't just buying a nice gift for someone; you are buying a ring that your future wife is going to wear for the rest of your lives. Because an engagement ring is such a big decision to make, it may be a bit overwhelming to know what it is you are looking for.

In the diamond buying business, they have what is called the 4 C's: cut, color, clarity, and carat. 

Cut: The cut of the diamond refers to how precise the diamond was cut, which can help make or break the look of the overall diamond. This is the most important C to consider. Depending on the shape of the diamond that you are choosing, you may only want to go with an excellent cut diamond. For instance, when you have a round cut diamond, if the cut isn't excellent, it won' t sparkle like it should and may look a bit dull. 

Color: When it comes to buying a diamond, you want to choose one that has the least amount of color possible that's within your price range. The scale for diamond colors is based on a lettering system and starts with D and goes all the way to Z. D is the most colorless type of diamond out there and is extremely rare to find. You can, however, find diamonds that are a color E or F fairly easily, but they will come with a heftier price tag than an H. 

Clarity: Clarity refers to how many blemishes or scratches are on the diamond. While you may not see something with the naked eye, your jeweler will pull out a little magnifying glass to assess the clarity of the diamond and see if there is anything wrong with it. For the most part, as long as you keep your diamond polished and shined, you shouldn't have to worry about seeing any of these issues. 

Carat: The carat is probably one of the things that your fiancée is most excited about because it refers to the weight (not the size) of the diamond. When you are buying an engagement ring, one thing to consider is what is called "buying shy" which means that instead of buying a 2 carat diamond, buying a 1.9 diamond can save you a lot of money. 

Now that you know the basics of buying a diamond, reach out to a jeweler to discuss engagement rings.  

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