Diamond buying guides

Cut first, because it decides how much light comes back to the eye. Then pick the carat weight you want, and lower color and clarity until just before you can see a difference. Our 4Cs guide ranks them in that order.

Yes. A report from an independent lab such as GIA or IGI records the 4Cs, measurements and whether the stone is natural or laboratory-grown. Check that the report number matches the girdle inscription.

Sometimes, but price gaps shrink once you add tax rules, duties and the risk of buying without returns. Our city guides for Dubai and Istanbul compare the trade-offs.

Visible size follows diameter, not weight. Going from 1.00 to 1.50 carats in a round stone adds roughly 1 mm of diameter. Use the carat size calculator to compare shapes.

Online sellers usually show more inventory and 360° video; stores let you see the stone in person. Whichever you choose, insist on an independent report and a written return policy.