Most of us find engagement ring shopping to be pretty intimidating, and it’s no secret why. This is an expensive item that has a lot of personal meaning – we all want to get it right. However, there are ways to pay less, reduce your stress, and know you’re getting a good deal.

Everyone wants the biggest diamond possible – bigger is considered better. This is one of the things that stresses us out so much. No one wants to pay a lot, but a bigger diamond is the goal.

Fortunately, there’s some good news. You can find a larger diamond for a much smaller cost than you’d think. Just shop smart and learn about how diamonds are priced.

Here’s an example to help you understand.

Diamonds are graded using four major characteristics – cut, carat, clarity and color. We’ll check out color to see how you can get a larger diamond for less.

Diamond color is graded on a scale from D to Z, with D being the best quality. Determining a diamond’s color is done under high magnification in a lab.

What’s the catch? D-grade diamonds look the same as H-grade diamonds, unless you have a microscope. That’s a difference of four grades.

The naked eye can’t tell the difference between the two. It’s actually almost impossible to tell unless you place them on a pure white background, side by side, then view them under magnification. Grades below I may show a difference if you know your diamonds, but most people still can’t tell the difference.

So what’s the point? You should never pay for a D grade diamond when the human eye can’t distinguish it from an H!

The price difference between the two ranges is enormous. You could pay thousands of dollars more for a D grade diamond. Most jewelry stores encourage buyers to choose the highest grades, of course. Most people fall into this scheme, and pay a lot more than they need to.

This is only one of the methods you can use to save when you buy that all important ring. Picking a diamond that has a lower color grade but looks the same will allow you to buy a bigger one for the same price. That’s shopping smart.