while choosing a stone for that special person...

Often refe necklace bracelet sets rred to as a girl's best friend, diamonds are also the most precious gemstones in the world. To the scientist they are a crystalline form of carbon that has immense durability. In fact, the word diamond is derived from the Greek word, adamas, which means invincible.

But to the person receiving a gift of diamond jewelry - a diamond engagement ring, bracelet, earrings, or pendant, a diamond is a symbol of love unlike any other. That is why you should give some thought to the importance of the diamond's symbolic significance, and the quality of the diamond you choose.

There are many different types of diamonds, based on the way they were formed or the process of their origin. They are broadly classified into just three categories, natural diamonds, thin film diamonds, and synthetic industrial diamonds.

A natural diamond is the most expensive type because it originates from nature. Based on the type of impurities that are present in them, they are further classified into four types.

Type 1a contains 0.3% nitrogen. This diamond is light yellow or brown in color because it absorbs blue light. N necklace earrings set inety-eight percent of all the natural diamonds are this kind. Type 1b contains 500ppm of nitrogen and are yellow, orange, green or brown in color.

Type 2a is the purest form of diamond. Because it contains very little impurities or imperfections, it is generally colorless or translucent. Type 2b is the rarest type of diamond, containing only traces of nitrogen which makes it give off a bluish tinge.

The price and the quality of a diamond are determined by five basic criteria. The first is color. Diamonds are available in colors ranging from yellow to green, and black to red. But the most pure forms are the transparent ones.

The second criterion is clarity. Most diamonds have certain imperfections that are called inclusions. The fewer inclusions it has, the more expensive the diamond. A clarity grade is determined by the number, size, location and the type of inclusions.

Next comes cut. It is the cut of a diamond and the number of facets, that makes it sparkle. Some of the globally recognized diamond cuts are the Marquise, the Baguette, the Princess, and the Radiant cut.

The weight of a diamond is measured in carats. Large, natural diamonds are extremely rare and because they have more weight than smaller ones, they are the most expensive. It stands to reason that only the very rich can afford these sparking beauties.

The shape of a diamond is different from the cut. After a diamond is cut, its overall outline needs to be shaped. The most popular shapes are the tear drop and the simple, classic round cut.

There are things to check . Some diamonds have fluorescence, which makes them glow when illuminated. Check for any artificial enhancements or treatments that have been done because this alters the value. Insist on getting a diamond certificate which guarantees it's quality.

The Cullinan Diamond, the Hope Diamond, and the Kohinoor Diamond, are some of the world's most famous stones because of their size, clarity and value. But no matter what the size, diamonds are among the most anticipated gifts that a woman dreams about. When it comes time for you to make that important purchase, make sure you are buying the very best quality that you can afford.