Diamond Buying Guide: 12 Expert Tips from Blue Nile

Welcome to your diamond buying cheat sheet. Here are 12 tips our experts share with their friends. And now, with you! Diamond buying tip #1 - Set a budget. Ever heard you should spend 3-month salary on a ring? Forget it! We have beautiful rings for every budget. Diamond buying tip #2 - Master the 4Cs. Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat. Understanding the 4Cs of Diamond is key to getting the most sparkle for your budget Diamond buying tip #3 - Think with your eyes. Cut sparkles across a room. You can see color from few feet away. Clarity requires up-close appreciation. Carat is related to weight, not size. Diamond buying tip #4 - Prioritize cut. Even a flawless diamond will look dull with a poor cut. A cut that's too shallow won't reflect all the light. A cut that's too deep looks glassy and dull. The better the cut, the greater the sparkle. Diamond buying tip #5 - Put clarity into perspective. Most diamonds have tiny flaws. You can only see them with 10x magnification. SI grades aren't flawless, but still look great to the naked eyes. Diamond buying tip #6 - Consider near-colorless grades. Near-colorless diamonds are an excellent value. So start your search with G or H color grade. It's a great way to stretch your budget. Diamond buying tip #7 - Weigh your carat options. It's hard not to love a big sparkling diamond. But bigger isn't always way to go. Carat is relative to finger size, setting size and diamond shape. It's about what matters to you. Diamond buying ti