The following post is a guest article from Michelle Medlock from DiamondJewelry.org

If you’re like most women, the thought of buying a new diamond ring is almost intoxicating. You glance down at the jewelry case. You scan the many baubles, and then you see it—the one. When you discover the diamond ring that is destined to be yours, your heart rate increases; your eyes sparkle with excitement; and your mouth breaks into a sly little grin.

Women love diamonds. Maybe Marilyn Monroe said it best through song when she cooed, “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” in the 1953 film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Bottom line: women love diamonds. But, there is more to choosing a diamond ring than simply following that immediate gut feeling. Of course, you’ll need to look for rings in your price range. You’ll also need to determine if you prefer platinum, yellow gold, white gold or rose gold to compliment your diamond. In addition, you’ll need to select the shape of diamond you prefer: emerald, pear, heart, marquise, radiant, princess, round, oval, trilliant, asscher or cushion. Lastly, you’ll want to decide if you desire a cluster ring, a solitaire, an anniversary band, etc. Today’s creative jewelers offer many stunning styles to choose from, so look closely and study your favorites.

Those are the basics in ring selection but choosing the best stone for your diamond ring involves a bit more information. Ask any expert jeweler and you’ll discover that selecting a quality diamond is based on four criteria: cut, color, clarity and carat known as the “Four C’s.” Cut is the most important aspect because a well cut diamond allows light to reflect from one facet to another. If a stone is cut correctly, that diamond will look as if it is illuminated from within. Color is also crucial to the beauty of a diamond and is graded on a scale from D to Z, with D being the best or what is known as a colorless diamond. However, according to statistics, most diamonds purchased are in the I to J range. The clarity of a diamond is determined by the number of imperfections in the stone—the fewer the better. And, of course, the larger the carat weight, the more expensive the diamond.

So, now you know the 411 on diamond ring selection. Go forth and choose the diamond ring that best fits your budget, lifestyle and personality. Most importantly? Enjoy the buying experience. You might even hum a few bars of “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” while browsing…