RL Jewelers Chicago - Jewelry Education & Buyer's Guide
Jewelry is not a product. It's a feeling. It's a gift. "It's a milestone of life"
Your Chicago hub for engagement rings, lab‑grown & natural diamonds, ring sizing, gemstone care, and expert tips. Learn fast. Shop smart.
30+ years combined experience • GIA-Graduate consultants • Ethical, conflict‑free sourcing.
Start Here: How to Choose the Right Engagement Ring
- Set a comfortable budget. We’ll optimize the 4Cs to maximize sparkle within it.
- Pick a center stone type: Natural diamond, lab‑grown diamond, or a colored gemstone.
- Choose a shape (round, oval, emerald, radiant, pear, marquise, cushion, princess, etc.).
- Select a setting (solitaire, halo, three‑stone, pave/hidden halo, bezel, cathedral).
- Find the perfect metal: 14K/18K yellow, white, rose gold, or platinum.
- Get the size right using our Ring Size guide below.
Pro Tip: In person, light performance wins hearts. Visit our Chicago bridal lounge to compare cuts side‑by‑side.
Diamond 4 Cs: Cut, Color, Clarity, Carat
At RL Jewelers Chicago, we believe every diamond tells a story of brilliance, beauty, and value. Understanding the 4Cs of Diamonds — Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight — helps you make a confident and educated choice when selecting your engagement ring or fine diamond jewelry. Our GIA-certified experts guide you through each step, ensuring you find a sparkling diamond that fits your style, budget, and quality standards. Whether you’re exploring lab-grown diamonds or natural diamonds, this guide reveals how the 4Cs define a diamond’s true worth and radiance.
Diamond 4 Cs: Cut, Color, Clarity, Carat
Diamond Cut — The Sparkle That Defines Brilliance
The cut of a diamond is the most crucial of the 4Cs, as it determines how beautifully the stone interacts with light. According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), a diamond’s cut grade is based on the precise combination of its proportions, symmetry, and polish—factors that directly influence its brilliance, fire, and scintillation (the flashes of light and sparkle you see when the diamond moves).
A perfectly cut diamond captures light from every angle and reflects it back to the viewer’s eye, creating unmatched sparkle and radiance. Even with excellent color and clarity, a poorly cut diamond can appear dull and lifeless.
GIA assigns cut grades ranging from Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, to Poor, allowing buyers to recognize the most radiant and precisely crafted stones. When choosing your diamond, always prioritize cut quality—it’s the factor that gives your diamond its signature brilliance and transforms it into a timeless symbol of love and perfection.
Diamond Color — The Purity of Natural Beauty
A diamond’s color refers to the natural hue—or lack of hue—visible within the stone. According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the Diamond Color Grade measures how colorless a diamond appears, using a precise scale from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown). The less color present, the rarer and more valuable the diamond becomes.
Truly colorless diamonds (D–F) reflect light with incredible brilliance and purity, while near-colorless grades (G–J) offer exceptional beauty and value, often appearing perfectly white once set in jewelry. Diamonds graded K and beyond may display a faint warmth, which can complement certain settings, such as yellow or rose gold.
At RL Jewelers Chicago, every diamond is hand-selected by GIA-certified experts to ensure optimal balance between color, brilliance, and price. Whether you choose a natural or lab-grown diamond, understanding the color grade helps you find a gem that radiates elegance, beauty, and timeless sophistication.
Diamond Clarity — The Purity Within Every Sparkle
A diamond’s clarity measures the presence of natural inclusions and surface blemishes formed deep within the earth or lab during its creation. According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), clarity evaluates how clean and pure a diamond appears under 10x magnification, grading from Flawless (FL) to Included (I).
The fewer and smaller the inclusions, the rarer and more brilliant the diamond. Flawless (FL) and Internally Flawless (IF) diamonds are extremely rare, while Very Very Slightly Included (VVS1–VVS2) and Very Slightly Included (VS1–VS2) grades offer exceptional clarity and value, appearing flawless to the naked eye. Even Slightly Included (SI1–SI2) diamonds can deliver remarkable sparkle when well-cut and properly chosen.
At RL Jewelers Chicago, our GIA-certified gemologists carefully inspect every diamond to ensure superior light performance and visual beauty, selecting only stones that balance clarity, brilliance, and affordability. Whether you prefer a natural or lab-grown diamond, understanding clarity helps you choose a gem that embodies purity, character, and lasting brilliance.
Diamond Carat Weight — The Measure of True Value
A diamond’s carat weight refers to its actual weight, not its size. One carat equals 200 milligrams, and each carat is subdivided into 100 “points,” allowing precise measurement (for example, a 0.75 carat diamond = 75 points). According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), carat weight is one of the most recognized elements of diamond quality but it’s not the only factor that determines beauty or value.
While larger diamonds are rarer and generally more expensive, a diamond’s cut, color, and clarity have an equal, if not greater impact on its overall brilliance and presence. A well-cut 1.00 carat diamond can appear larger and more radiant than a poorly cut 1.25 carat stone.
At RL Jewelers Chicago, we help you find the perfect balance of size, sparkle, and value. Whether you desire a delicate 0.50 ct diamond for everyday elegance or a statement 2 ct engagement ring, our GIA-certified experts ensure you select a diamond that maximizes both visual impact and long-term worth.
Natural Diamonds
Mined Diamonds
Natural diamonds are created deep within the Earth over billions of years, shaped by extreme heat and pressure. Their rarity gives them enduring value and timeless emotional appeal. Each is GIA or AGS certified, ethically sourced through responsible mining, and treasured for its heritage and authenticity.
Lab Grown Diamonds
Lab-grown diamonds, on the other hand, are made in advanced laboratories using HPHT or CVD technology, recreating the same conditions nature provides. They are identical in brilliance and beauty, certified by GIA, IGI, or GCAL, and often cost 30–60% less than natural diamonds of the same quality—perfect for those who want maximum sparkle within budget.
At RL Jewelers Chicago, we proudly offer both natural and lab-grown options, each hand-selected for exceptional cut, clarity, and light performance. Visit our showroom to see both types side by side, compare their brilliance in person, and let our GIA-certified experts help you choose the diamond that best fits your love story and values.
Jewelry is not product. It's a feeling. It's a gift. "It's a milestone of life"
Schedule your in-person viewing appointment today
RL Jewelers Chicago — Ring Size Guide
Use this quick chart to convert **US ring sizes** to inner **diameter** and **circumference**. Half sizes are included. For best results, measure at the end of the day and compare in millimeters.
| US Size | Inner Diameter | Inner Circumference |
|---|
*Unisex sizing. Values are approximate—ring width, profile, finger shape, temperature, and time of day can affect fit.
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