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The following are specs I recommend when buying a diamond:

Clarity: VVS2 - VS2

Anything clearer than VS1 cannot be seen with the naked eye, so higher clarity is more for knowledge sake than beauty. Even VVS2 is more than you need. On the other end of the spectrum, some SI diamonds look great but others don't. You would have to see it in person to find a SI diamond that looks great. Also, the more heavily included, the more chance of breaking your diamond while setting. I do not recommend I clarity diamonds or below. Ever.

Cut: better

Every site has different ratings for cut, which is possibly the most important "C" when it comes to sparkle. While I have not inspected enough diamonds from different distributors to tell the difference between their ratings, I recommend the higher end of the scale. As with all grading, the incremental difference between "Ideal" and "Signature Ideal" will be small. Any rating of "Very good" or better should be sufficient.

Color: F - H

Like the clarity, there comes a point where you're paying for the letter rather than something you can see. An expensive D diamond becomes an H as soon as she applies moisturizer to her hands. I begin to see yellow on I and lower diamonds and while they still look great, if you buy an I or J diamond expect it to be a little dark.

Carat: any

The size of your diamond is solely a matter of your and her taste. A high quality diamond looks fantastic no matter what the size. In general, a small, high quality diamond looks better than a large low-grade diamond.

Girdle: consistent

If this is your first stone setting experience, keep it simple. A girdle that is thin to very thick will be difficult for you to set straight. A very thin girdle will be easier to chip. A thick girdle will add unwanted carat weight to your diamond, making it expensive, less reflective, and difficult to set.

Fluorescence: not strong

Strong fluorescence will make the diamond slightly milky and a little less sparkly.

Buying the diamond

As I mentioned on the previous page, my top choices for places to buy diamonds are: my shop, online, or 47th St. Please be Careful - most people looking for a "deal" on a diamond get the opposite. For the online types, I recommend the following companies:

James Allen                               Diamond.com

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