Are you well versed in the 4 C's of diamonds this Christmas?

Christmas Eve - not Valentine's Day – is the most popular day of the year to propose. Jewelry stores report selling more diamond rings in the days leading up to Christmas than the most romantic day of the year, with sales reaching a peak on December 24. If you have earmarked Christmas Eve as that day when you will go down on one knee and present a solitaire diamond ring to that special someone, you must have started doing your homework on diamonds. If you haven't, here's a quick lesson on the most important diamond lesson of all: the four Cs. 

Cut

Cut and sparkle go hand in hand. A well-cut stone looks bigger, masks its flaws better, and looks more brilliant than one that's poorly cut. The cut of GIA certified diamonds can be ranked as 'Excellent', 'Very Good' or 'Good'. If you are working off a modest budget, prioritize cut over other features. 

Clarity 

Clarity is defined by the lack or extent of blemishes and inclusions in a stone. Diamonds can be graded as 'Flawless' or FL, 'Internally Flawless' or 'IF', and on the basis of different grades of inclusion, from 'Eye-Visible' or I3 inclusions to 'Very Very Slightly Included' or VVSI inclusions. Only experts possess a sharp eye for inclusions, so it's safe to go for 'Slightly Included' SI1 or SI2 diamonds that your to-be wife will appreciate. 

Color

Diamonds range in color from D to Z. A completely colorless D graded stone boasts the highest quality and is quite rare. Having said that, only diamond experts can distinguish between a D and G, so you'll do just fine opting for a G or H stone. 

Carat 

As you may know, the carat weight is a measurement of how much a diamond weighs. If you are looking for ways to save costs on your solitaire engagement ring  , you can 'buy shy' with a 0.95 carat diamond as opposed to a 1 carat stone (0.95 carat being just shy of 1 carat). Going slightly below a round number can help you save big while ensuring that the perceivable difference in the stone size to the visible eye stays small.