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.