A diamond engagement ring is a purchase you’ll remember for the rest of your life. It’s crucial that you choose a beautiful stone that will look great for decades to come. But it’s about more than just picking the prettiest or largest diamond in the store. A high quality diamond will meet cut, color, clarity and carat standards.

To help you get started, we’ve highlighted several of the most important things to consider when visiting a jewelry store in Sterling Heights, MI to select the perfect diamond for an engagement ring:

• Shape: This is one of the most basic places to start. Diamonds come in a variety of shapes, including round, oval, emerald, princess, marquise, radiant cut, pear, cushion and heart shaped. That means you’re bound to find something that she’ll adore. Most diamond engagement rings are round or princess shaped, but don’t be afraid to choose something different, such as a cushion or pear shaped stone, if you think it’s fitting for your future fiancée.
• Size: The size of the diamond will likely be influenced by your budget. A larger diamond tends to cost more, but you can still get a perfectly sized diamond for a reasonable price. Don’t get completely focused on the size, though, as the carat weight is just as important, if not more so.
• Carat weight: Generally, most buyers opt for a one or two carat diamond. These options are the best way to get a great diamond for a reasonable price. It’s difficult to distinguish between each carat weight. Oftentimes, a smaller carat weight diamond may have a diameter similar to a heavier diamond, so they’ll appear to be the same size from above. Most jewelers will recommend finding a balance between size and quality for the best selection.
• Cut: The cut is what makes the diamond truly shine. A diamond with a poor cut will appear dull and flat. While the cut is an important consideration for every shape, it’s especially crucial that it is well done when it comes to round diamonds. Engagement rings should generally have a cut grade of very good, ideal or super ideal. A high cut grade ensures that your fiancée will get the maximum amount of shine and beauty for the weight of the carat.
• Color: The color is often considered to be one of the most important aspects, as it can actually be seen without a visual aid. Most people select a colorless or white diamond. The price and availability increases drastically with completely colorless and icy white stones. Near-colorless and colorless diamonds (F-H color) are usually the best value.
• Clarity: Clarity is often one of the least important factors, as it has very little impact on the appearance of the diamond. Diamonds completely free of any internal flaws are incredibly expensive and hard to come by. Instead, select a diamond with no inclusions visible to the naked eye.