Diamond hunting comes down to four key features, cut, clarity, colour and carat – commonly known as the “4 C’s.” If you get to grips with these words then searching for the ring that you will get to wear for the rest of your life will be just as thrilling as the sparkle that it creates in the light.

CUT
A master class in geometry, the intricacy of the diamond is comprised of facets. If a diamond is cut correctly it will reflect light, and if done incorrectly then it will be a little lacklustre. So expect to pay more for a quality cut diamond.

The cut also refers to the shape and here’s the important bit for all you eager gentleman, shape is all about personal style. The most traditional type is round but if your lady prefers something a little bit more unique, then there are some gorgeous shapes such as emerald, marquise, pear and princess available. For further information on styles visit online diamond emporium, www.bluenile.com. It is really important to know what shapes you like before you go and splash the cash. After all, you will be wearing that ring for a long time.

CLARITY
Diamonds are graded with letters according to their clarity, simply put how many imperfections they have. The best kind of course is IF, which is flawless, free of blemishes and imperfections. But to obtain such a rare and beautiful stone, be prepared to pay an exclusive price.

V and S grades are the ones to look out for depending on your budget. V is the silver medal class of diamond rings with very slight inclusions, and S the bronze medal, with slight inclusions. But whichever one you go for, rest assured that the imperfections won’t be visible to the naked eye.

The worst is anything with a P grading; remember to stay clear of this one, as you’d be better off with cubic zirconium.

COLOUR
Now it’s easy to assume that all diamonds are clear and bright, right? Wrong. Diamonds range from a certified D-F, which is colourless, the best kind, and again the most expensive to G-J, near colourless.

If you’re someone who has J-Lo proportion aspirations, then you can also go for something different such as a yellow or pink diamond. But make sure your husband to be has a P-Diddy balance to match.

CARAT
This one is for the dreamers out there, who really want to show off a blinding golf ball on their finger. A single diamond’s worth increases according to its carat, basically the size and weight of it. Measured as 0.2gms to one carat, you can also get rings that feature more carats in total, as they may have smaller stones set in the shoulder of the ring. Most people go for 1 to 2 carats, so maybe its time to put that dream of a golf ball to rest.

And that essentially is it…confusing, it can be, information overload, possibly, but worth it definitely.