Color	Cut
Clarity	Carat

Color

Every girl wants a totally colorless diamond, but unless you have $20000 to pay for one, you may want to look else where. They start off with D E F, then go to G H I. For a good clarity stick with an F or G for your bigger diamonds. G and H are good for smaller diamonds (around .25) You will start to notice a yellow hue when H and Is. White gold or platinum under the diamonds on the mount will help whiten a diamond. Try not to get yellow gold directly underneath the diamond. The diamond will reflect some of the yellow from the gold when you look at it.

Cut
You should get an ideal cut if you are getting a round diamond. Other cuts reduce the reflectiveness properties of the diamond. Don't pay extra for Hearts of Fire or Arrows and Hearts diamond. Every diamond with an ideal cut will exhibit the same qualities advertised. So go with an ideal cut.

Clarity

This is where you really need to look at the diamonds. Some diamonds will have very good inclusions (defects) other will have very bad inclusions. A good inclusion is one that not on the top face of the diamond, nor visible when looking down on a diamond. Some times you may get luck and find a diamond where the inclusions can be hidden by the prongs from the mount. The best part is you can find a diamond with good inclusions that is rated and priced the same as a diamond with bad inclusions. The grading system is based off of clarity not position of the inclusions.

Carat
1 Carat = 1/5 of a gram. That is 1/5 the weight of a paper clip. 1 carat also equals 100 points. Carats are divided in points.

And the 5th C - Cost

Some would say that it should be 2 months salary. That can be one nice ring. Remember to always love what you purchase. You will need to look at it for the rest of your life. The bride will be looking at it every day for the rest of her life. Get something you like.

If money becomes an issue, gold is cheaper than Platnium. You can take money out of the mount and put it into the diamonds. If you are going to get multiple diamonds, put most of you money in the bigger one and skimp a little on the little diamonds. If you get a good big diamond, the smaller ones will look better by association.

Where else can you take money out of a diamond?

Cut
Never take any money out of the cut. Get the best cut you can.

Carat
Most people take money out of the carat, by reducing the size. This is very effective to lower the overall cost of a ring. Keep in mind proportions of the diamond to other diamonds or to the mount.