SMART DIAMOND BUYING Prices and quality vary widely among jewelers, so a little homework goes a long way and is well worth your time. Moreover, a diamond ring is so symbolic that feeling 'buyer's remorse' is especially painful. Here are some good rules to follow that will help you avoid inferior, overpriced diamonds and find the one diamond you can be truly proud to give. Do your homework Learn how diamond grades are determined, so you can ask good questions. A good place to start is The Diamond Grading section. Generally, the more you know, the less you'll pay. Don't ignore any of the "4C's" There are four quality factors for determining diamond value, called the 4C'c. These are Carat weight, Clarity, Color and Cut grade (not the diamond shape!). Often couples are given only two or three of these 4C's. If any of these four diamond grades are left out, you can rightly assume you are not being told the whole story. Dealer grading is not necessarily accurate Diamond grading standards vary widely among jewelers (even though they are not supposed to!) Some grades are left out. Most quoted grades are inflated. Salespeople are often allowed to make up their own grades. To discover if a quote is accurate, read Questions you should ask. Also, follow the "rules" in the diamond grading section.