When you and your fiancé are shopping for the perfect engagement ring, remember these "4 C's" courtesy of Nellie Boone from Boone & Sons Jewelers.

Carat (weight): Diamonds are weighted in carats and increments of a carat that are called points. One hundred points are equivalent to one carat. The larger the diamond, the more rare and valuable it is.

Color: Diamonds range from colorless, the most valuable, through rare "fancy" colors of yellow, pink, blue, green and others. All diamonds graded D-F are considered "colorless". Diamonds G-J are considered nearly colorless.

Clarity: This is the degree to which a diamond is free from inclusions, characteristics showing that the diamond is of natural origin. A flawless diamond is very rare and therefore more valuable. The physical size, quantity, location, type and color of inclusions within the diamond are what separate each grade.

Cut: This is the physical shape of the diamond and how well it is proportioned. A well-proportioned diamond allows the greatest fire and brilliance.

Pick up your copy of Brides & Weddings magazine at these fine jewelers:

Achikian Goldsmith's
131 Church Street, Vienna
703.255.2255
www.achikian.com
shannon@achikian.com

Adeler Jewelers
772-E Walker Road, Great Falls
703.759.4076
www.adelerjewelers.com

Ashby Jewlers
9407 Main Street, Manassas
703.368.4653
www.ashbyjewelers.com

A Touch of Gold
202-A Washington Street, Occoquan
703.490.4544
www.touchofgoldonline.com
shop4jewelry@aol.com

B&C Jewelers
3652 King Street, Alexandria
703.379.6010
www.bcjewelers.net

Belle View Jewelers
Belle View Shopping Center, Alexandria
703.768.4900

Boone & Sons
1320 Old Chain Bridge Road, McLean
703.734.3997
www.booneandsons.com

Caulkins Jewelers
1 South King Street, Leesburg
703.777.1108
www.caulkinsjewelers.com

Daniel Roberts Fine Jewelers
10254 Main Street, Fairfax
703.734.7770
www.danielrobertsfinejewelers.com

Eternity Jewelers
267 South Van Dorn Street, Alexandria
703.823.0691
www.eternityjewelers.info

Express Jewelers
Ballston Common Mall, Arlington
703.351.7481

Exquisite Jewelers
8404-A Old Keene Mill Road., Springfield
703.912.5739
Shops of Lorton Valley, Lorton
703.493.9442

Felton Jewelers
251 West Lee Highway, Warrenton
540.347.7702
www.feltonjewelers.com
sales@feltonjewelers.com

Five Star Diamond
Burke Center Shopping Center, Burke
703.239.1300
www.4diamond.com
fivestarjewelers@hotmail.com

Hartman Jewelers
70 Main Street, Warrenton
540.349.4123
www.hartmanjewelers.net
info@hartmanjewelers.net

Hunt Country Jewelers
Custom Bridal Jewelry Specialists
36955 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro
540.668.7700
www.huntcountry.com
ebcutshall@huntcountry.com

Jewelry by Design
2932 Prince William Parkway, Woodbridge
703.580.8880
www.customdesignedjewelryva.com
info@jbd4u.com

Ketterman's Jewelers
38-Catoctin Circle SE, Leesburg
703.777.0033
www.kettermans.com
info@kettermans.com

May Jewelers
8032 Leesburg Pike, Tysons Corner
703.448.0866
www.mayjewelers.com
info@mayjewelers.com

M. Beem Jewelers
11730 Plaza America Drive, Suite 120, Reston
571.203.1350
www.mbeemjewelers.com
mbeemr@aol.com

Mervis Diamond Importers
1900 Mervis Way, Tysons Corner
703.448.9000
1700 K Street NW, Washington DC
202.293.0600
5480 Wisconsin Avenue, Chevy Chase
301.215.9500
1775 Rockville Pike, Rockville
301.231.0030
www.mervisdiamond.com

Princess Jewelers
529 Maple Avenue West, Vienna
703.255.5050
www.theprincessjewelers.com

Protea Diamonds
Harrison Street & Lee Highway, Arlington
703.536.9822
www.proteadiamonds.com
info@proteadiamonds.com

Salona Jewelers
1333 Chain Bridge Road., McLean
703.848.2660
www.salonajewelers.com
info@salonajewelers.com

Shammas Jewelers
Burke Town Plaza, Burke
703.455.3099
www.shammasjewelers.com

Solovey Jewelers
1475 Chain Bridge Road, McLean
703.356.0138
www.solovey.com
tsolovey@verizon.net

Tysons Watch & Jewelry Exchange
8150 Leesburg Pike, Vienna
703.893.9566
www.dcdiamonds.com
Vicky@dcdiamonds.com

Velasquez Jewelers
21430 Cedar Drive, Sterling
(703) 421-8222
www.vagoldbuyers.com

Virginia Gold Buyers
21580 Atlantic Boulevard, Sterling
(703) 444-7804
www.vagoldbuyers.com

Waldin Jewelers
Dulles Town Center, Sterling
703.421.0030
www.waldinjewelers.com
info@waldinjewelers.com

Werner Jewelers
5013 Columbia Pike, Arlington
703.671.4460
www.wernerjewelers-va.com