The 4Cs of Diamond

Choosing a beautiful diamond involves narrowing down your shape and selecting high-quality options for the diamond i.e. the 4 Cs - Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat Weight. 4Cs is a universal diamond classification and grading system.

Finding the perfect harmony between these 4 Cs will help you balance beauty and value when looking for a diamond.

Let us explain to you in detail about the 4Cs of Diamond.

  1. Cut - Arguably the most critical characteristic of a diamond as it has the most influence over the gemstone's sparkle. Cut is expressed in terms of the brilliance, fire and scintillation of a diamond. 

     

  2. Clarity - A diamond’s clarity grade evaluates how clean a diamond is from both inclusions and blemishes. For clarity, our primary recommendation is to ensure the diamond is ‘eye clean’, and that inclusions are not interfering with light reflection. Eye clean is what you can’t see with your naked eye.

    Below you can see all the Clarity grades and how they affect the look of the Diamond. A diamond with fewer and less visible inclusions and blemishes will command a better price. 

  3. Color - Diamond color is graded in terms of how white or colorless a diamond is. While the diamond color chart below provides an example of how each grade appears, it’s important to look at each diamond individually. 

    Depending on the diamond’s cut, carat weight and shape, the color might appear different among diamonds. The closer the diamond is to near colourless, the greater the value. 

    Note: Certain colored diamonds are valued stones, like a fancy pink or green diamond. Color grades for these diamonds are distinctly different from traditional “white” diamonds and don’t appear on the diamond color chart.

     

  4. Carat Weight - To put it simply, diamond carat weight measures how much a diamond weighs. Often when people hear the term “carat weight,” they think it refers to the size of the diamond. In actuality, Carat refers to the weight of the diamond, not how large the stone is. 

Each of the 4 C’s contribute to the overall beauty of a diamond and make each stone unique. 

As a general rule, we suggest a high quality Cut above all else—as this greatly impacts a diamond’s beauty and brilliance—while balancing a fine line on Color and Clarity to get the best bang for your buck.

Knowing what to look for and how to balance the 4 C’s will help you get the best value for the perfect diamond.

Right Certification

A certificate is like a "blueprint" for a diamond that gives you an understanding about measures and weight, as well as the specifics of its Cut, Colour, Clarity, Polish & Symmetry.

Some diamond grading labs are extremely strict and consistent, while others have questionable standards and are much less reliable. It is better to consider GIA (Gemological Institute of America) certified diamonds in your search for a loose diamond