The value of a diamond is determined by the 4 C's. These 4 C's are cut (the styling of the diamond as well as the workmanship), colour (how much off-white the diamond is), clarity (the number/types of faults inherent of the diamond) and carat (how much it weighs). Before you chose the diamond we want you to be able to understand how these qualities affect the diamond. Armed with this knowledge you will be well on your way to chose the diamond that is right for you.

Remember that choosing a diamond is not an exact science.

This will have the greatest overall impact on the appearance of the stone. Unfortunately, it is often the most downplayed aspect of the stone. Diamonds can be cut short and fat, making them appear large. The further that they deviate from the optimum cut, the more dead spots that will appear.

Diamonds are found in a range of colour, from white to slightly yellow. The less yellow there is, the higher the value. The most valuable diamonds are totally clear. Since the stone will always be seen on the finger and not next to a collection of diamonds, concentrate on finding one that does not appear yellow without comparison. Jewellery247.co.uk's diamonds are all above J colour, these appear colourless without comparison. Follow our guide to learn more.

Clarity is a measure of how much and how many inclusions there are in the diamond. Every diamond that you will see has some sort of natural 'fingerprint' in it. Inclusions are natural as diamonds are mined and not manufactured. Never the less, the fewer the inclusions, the more valuable the diamond. They are useful in helping one identify a particular stone.

Carat weight refers to the weight of the diamond, not the size. By definition 1 carat is exactly 200 milligrams. Large diamonds are more rare than small diamonds so the diamond value tends to rise exponentially with carat weight. The carat of the stone will be dictated by your budget and the constraints of colour and clarity.

Cut: the proportions of a diamond.

Colour: The amount of yellow within the stone.

Clarity: The diamonds' 'fingerprint'.

Carat: The weight of the diamond.

Fancies: To learn more about fancy shaped cuts, read about Fancy Shaped Diamonds

What do all these terms used mean?. Read our Diamond Terminology secton