Buying a diamond? Get a fix on the four Cs before you pick up a fiery stone

Your love affair with the precious stones doesn't end with the purchase. You've really got to take care of the ice to keep the blemishes away. Here are tips on how to buy diamonds.

A smart alec once said a diamond is a mere lump of coal that did exceedingly well “under pressure”. This piece of carbon has been a rare find and therefore worth much more than its country cousins – graphite and coal. Diamonds today have become the most coveted piece of jewellery, often surpassing gold in people’s perception and for its snob appeal. No wedding is complete without a diamond ring, and most men and women aspire to gift and get a stone.

Jewellery designer Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, daughter of veteran actor Rishi Kapoor and sister of Ranbir Kapoor, says, “Delicate