This season give her the gift that she really wants...a diamond. Almost every girl that I know would love to open up a little black velvet box to find a piece of jewelry inside, but how do you shop to get the best deal? Loose diamonds are often an affordable way to go. With a loose diamond you can save some money on the price of gold and you can let her design the jewelry that she wants. Perhaps she will choose a pendant instead of a ring.

Giving her a can also allow her to be creative. She can design her own piece of jewelry and be proud of it when she shows it off to her friends.

One thing you can do is educate yourself about diamonds. By knowing and understanding the factors which determine a diamonds' price you can better set your budget and get maximum value for dollar.

If you are in the market for a , don't let all the industry jargon scare you off. Here's a little translation on what these terms mean so next time you go into the jewelry store you can speak the same language as the sales clerk!

1. CUT. Not the shape of the stone, but the quality of its facets.

2. CLARITY. Clarity levels start at Flawless and descend from Very Very Slight (VVS) to Very Slight (VS) and Slightly Included (SI). Clarity measures the number of flaws or inclusions in a diamond.

3. CARAT. The weight of a diamond. One carat equals about 200 milligrams.

4. COLOR. Transparent diamonds (those created from 100 percent carbon) are rated on a scale from D (clear) through Z (light yellow). Grade D is the most prestigious, but, because they are so rare, natural diamonds with tints of pink, blue or purple have a cachet all their own.

We hope this has been helpful. To see example of the 4C's and to get more in-depth information about diamonds please visit A&W Diamonds at awdiamonds.com and check out the diamond education center.