The four Cs: cut, color, clarity, and carat

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Cut determines the amount of light entering from above and how much is reflected back out of the diamond. Essentially, it translates into the beauty of the stone. The bottom of a round, brilliant cut stone, for example, should act as a mirror. If poorly cut, any diamond will appear dull.

Color - Brown and yellow are the most common colors, but a natural diamond's color can range from blue to red. Individual diamonds are given a letter rating, which indicates the amount of color in the stone. The D-F grades are most expensive and Z is the cheapest.

D-F are colorless, very bright, and rare.
G-H are white and very bright, but appear clear from the top. Consequently, when placed in a ring setting, their appearance is very similar to the D-F grades.
I-J have a very slight tint (noticeable to the discerning eye) or are not as bright as higher grade diamonds.
K-L have a tint (slightly noticeable to the average, untrained eye).
M or lower have colors that are obvious to most people.

Clarity has to do with the perfection of the stone. The clearer a diamond, the more it will cost. Flawless clarity grade diamonds are extremely rare. Clarity ratings range from FL (flawless) on the high end to I-3 (obvious imperfections). High-grade stones require magnification of 10x to see flaws; in lower-grade diamonds, imperfections can be seen with the naked eye.

Carat means the weight of the stone, which is one factor in its cost. One carat equals one-fifth of a gram. Diamonds weighing less than a carat are measured in points, with 100 points equaling one carat (one-half carat is 50 points, one-fourth carat is 25, etc). A one-point difference in a diamond can make a difference in its value; the larger the carat weight, the more it is worth.

Special thank you to writing coach, editor, and ghostwriter Bobbi Linkemer, who contributed the original material throughout MyOnlineWeddingHelp.com.