What goes hand in hand with weddings and engagements? If you don't know the answer all you need to do is ask your wife, fiance or ex-girlfriend revenge. The answer is jewelry. The very act of giving jewelry from one to another is almost as timeless as love itself. It's not just the gesture of giving a ring but it's what the ring represents-you're undying affection and care for your soul mate. With that being said the importance of the ring you choose cannot be underestimated. But where do you even start? What do you look for when choosing a diamond for your future wife?

When it comes time for you to select a diamond for that special someone the first rule is that bigger isn't necessarily better. Great diamonds also rely on a great cut. They call this Diamond Clarity. Diamond Clarity goes from ''FL'' to I (3). An ''FL'' ranking means the diamond has a flawless cut and is nearly impossible to find. An I (3) ranking means the diamond is very imperfect and has many flaws. While a poor cut could possibly mean a dull diamond a great cut means a precious commodity.

Secondly you must pay very close attention to the color. When it comes to color less is more and you will notice that right away by the price on the tag. Since color steals from the brilliance of the diamond best diamonds are nearly colorless. The diamond color scale ranks diamonds in color from ''D'' to ''Z''. A ''D'' ranking means the diamond is colorless, whereas a ''Z'' ranking means the diamond has a severe yellow coloring to it. Obviously, the closer you can get to ''D'', the better.

Diamonds come in 7 different shapes: emerald, heart, marquise, oval, pear, princess, and round. This all comes down to a personal preference. If you're planning to give the ring as a surprise you'll have to do your detective work. Note the type of jewelry your special someone wears. If she's accustomed to simple rings then a bulky diamond such as a pear shaped will stick out further and be more apt to hit a surface. One of the best techniques is to inquire with one of her close friends or family.

The last and definitely not least is the weight of the diamond. This is called Carats. Carats are often confused with the size, but it is a measurement of weight. One carat is the equivalent of 200 milligrams. One carat can be divided into 100 "points". A .75 carat diamond is the same as 75 points or a 3/4 carat diamond. Since larger diamonds are rarer than smaller diamonds, the value rises exponentially with carat weight.

Once you're ready to purchase, get a diamond grading report from the dealer. This report will testify to the diamonds authenticity and evaluate the characteristics of the diamond. Now that you've got some of the basics down you're almost half way there. Shop around to make sure you find exactly what you're looking for. After all this may well be one of the most important purchases of your life. No pressure.

To find CZ engagement rings or Wedding style rings visit Celebrity Silver.

April is diamond expert consulting thousands of engaged couples on the perfect diamond rings.