When it comes to the world of jewelry, diamonds usually get all of the attention. However, if you’ve ever walked into a fine jewelry store and seen the diamonds up close, then you’ll know exactly why people go absolutely nuts over great diamonds. It’s true — diamonds really have become the stars of the show, and their unique properties explain why very easily.

For starters, diamonds are incredibly hard — the world’s hardest material, actually. That’s why there are so many industrial uses for diamonds, because nothing can cut them — except other diamonds. For jewelry hounds though, it’s not just the hardness factor that’s appealing — when diamond are cut into the proper shape, the brilliance is to die for.

However, does that mean that all diamonds are created equal? Definitely not. There is a world of difference between a rough, unpolished stone and a diamond ring that has been shaped step by step into something extraordinary.

It’s all about the color, the cut, the clarity, and the carat weight. A diamond that is near-flawless is going to have a higher value than a diamond that has visible flaws. Does that mean that you have to buy the near-flawless diamond? Definitely not — it’s very expensive to do so. Some diamonds do have some flaws, but they are only visible under a magnifying glass. It’s a good way to save money and this honor the ones you love with something special.

For something major, you will want to get the best diamond that you can. A diamond that has a smaller carat size but a higher clarity is better than a large diamond that has very visible flaws to the human eye. The color also matters — if you don’t want a cloudy diamond, then it’s worth your while to upgrade to a diamond that actually is as colorless as possible. The only time that you don’t want to go colorless is with the rise of “chocolate” or “canary” diamonds. These are diamonds that have a definite color to them, and they look great on just about anyone.

Ordering diamonds online is a very smart way to really make sure that you have time to look for the best selection. The days of driving around from jewelry store to jewelry store looking for that perfect stone are long gone — if you really want to get a dazzling set of diamonds for  your special someone, the time is now to go online and get started today!