Whether you want to make a unique keepsake or just want something out of the ordinary, designing a diamond ring involves two very important steps. The first? Selecting the perfect diamond. To do this here are a few tips.

The shape of the diamond is very important. Think about your daily activities and hobbies. Marquise diamonds, with their sharp points, tend to catch on things and can leave a nasty scratch on skin, so if you have young children or work with patients, you might want to avoid this shape. After that it’s up to personal preference and style. Traditional favorites like solitaires and ovals tend to sparkle the most while emerald and and cushion cuts are more subdued. The square princess cut is a modern favorite as is the radiant cut. Heart shaped cuts are less popular but more unique.

The next step is to consider the 4Cs- Cut, Clarity, Color, and Carat. The finest and priciest diamonds are the ones that are whitest, except for the “Fancy Diamonds” which can be yellow, blue or green. (They are extremely rare and have a very high price tag) Cut is extremely important as a poorly cut diamond will be dull and lifeless. Clarity refers to the amount of inclusions and blemishes the stone has. Being a naturally formed stone it’s normal for there to be some, and again, the less blemishes and flaws a stone has, the higher its quality-and price. Carat is more of a personal preference. The higher the carat weight the higher the price! Some other things to consider are the size of the fingers your creation will decorate. Small fingers make small stones look big but are dwarfed by large stones.

To be sure you’re getting the best, go to a local jeweler where you can examine the gems yourself rather than buying blindly online. Choose diamonds that have been certified by the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) or AGS (American Gem Society) so you know you are getting the highest quality diamonds.