Buying Diamonds Online

Various characteristics of diamonds are graded and categorized by the diamond industry. Learning about diamonds is first learning about the "four Cs" of diamonds which are considered the most important grades and categories:

* Cut
* Clarity
* Color
* Carat weight

These are the criteria jewelers use when grading diamonds, and they're the ones you'll need to understand to buy the right diamond for you.

Cut
Cut is probably the most important, and most challenging, of the four Cs to understand. The brilliance of a diamond depends heavily on its cut.

Clarity
Most diamonds contain some inner flaws, or inclusions, that occur during the formation process. The visibility, number and size of these inclusions determine what is called the clarity of a diamond. Diamonds that are clear create more brilliance, and thus are more highly prized, and priced.

Color
Colorless diamonds are the most desirable since they allow the most refraction of light (sparkle). Off white diamonds absorb light, inhibiting brilliance.

Carat Weight
A carat is the unit of weight by which a diamond is measured. Because large diamonds are found less commonly than small diamonds, the price of a diamond rises exponentially to its size.

* Read more at the Diamond Buying Guide.

When you're ready to make your next jewelry purchase, consider buying it online. The Internet offers a number of unique shopping advantages, whether you're a first-time purchaser or an e-shopping veteran:

Speed. Make your selection. Enter your information. Then click a button. It's as easy as that. And all from your own computer.

Convenience. Compare the online jewelry shopping experience with shopping at a mall jewelry store or department store: you rush to get there, fight traffic, vie for parking, get jostled by crowds, endure pushy salespeople, suffer long lines at the register. By the time you get home with your purchase, you're drained. And if you need to return the item, you can look forward to going through this hassle all over again.

Selection. Online Diamond Jewelry Stores have the capacity to offer a much wider selection of merchandise for sale in one place than either a traditional store or catalog. This means you can uncover some truly unique jewelry items you won't find anywhere else.

Value. Because an Internet retailer has lower inventory and other overhead costs than a bricks-and-mortar retailer, these savings can be passed on to you, the consumer, in the form of great deals on the latest merchandise.

Education. The Internet is the world's largest storehouse of information. In the market for an engagement ring and want to learn about the 4Cs of diamonds? You'll find it here. Questions about how to clean your jewelry? It's all here. Want to learn how to judge quality, or discover the latest styles? You can do it all from your computer.

Even if you decide not to buy your jewelry online and opt for a traditional jewelry store or jewelry department, the Internet can still be a valuable resource. You can essentially do all your legwork - determine the style, quality and price you are willing to pay - before you even enter the store. So take advantage of it!

Read more at the Diamond Buying Guide.