You may have heard that the appropriate sum to spend on a diamond is based upon your salary. You should disregard such advice and spend what you are comfortable spending. The experience will be much more pleasurable if you set a budget and work within it. There are small compromises that can be made to fit a nice looking diamond into almost any budget. In each of the sections of the four C’s, I offer advice on getting the best bang for your buck. In addition, compare prices among different shapes. You may find that you can get the same size and quality for less money by considering a different shape.

*When color, clarity, and carat weight are all equal, round brilliant cut diamonds are more expensive than fancy shaped.