4 C's of Diamonds - A Quick Guide to Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat Weight
A diamond's 4 C's are the main characteristics that help to determine a diamond's value. Understanding the 4 C's is crutial to making a wise diamond engagement ring decision. Most people want a high quality diamond for a reasonable price. This short guide will help you to understand what these characteristics are and what to look for.
Diamond Cut - This is the most important characteristic of a diamond. It refers to the style of faceting arrangements that a diamond has. There are three main cuts: brilliant, modified brilliant, and step-cut. A diamond cutter is responsibile for the quality of a diamond's cut. Laboratories evaluate a diamond's cut and issue it a cut "grade". This grade helps to describe the diamond's symmetry and polish in direct relation to its proportions. The most desirable cut grade is "Excellent" or "Ideal" as this ensures maximum brilliance and light reflection.
Diamond Color - Natural diamonds come in many colors, however most diamonds on the market are referred to as "white diamonds". These diamonds are graded on a scale ranging from "D" to "Z" based on their lace of color. In other words, the less color or more "white" a diamond appears, the more expensive and rare it is. These diamonds are referred to as colorless diamonds and are graded either D, E, or F. Near colorless diamonds are graded G, H, or I and are less expensive than colorless diamonds. Diamonds graded J-Z have varying shades of yellow to brown and are often less expensive and less rare than colorless or near-colorless diamonds. Use this diamond color tool to help visualize the difference between the different diamond color grades.
Diamond Clarity - Most natural diamonds have either surface blemishes or internal inclusions that were formed as part of the natural crystal formation of the diamond. Like birthmarks, these inclusions and blemishes can help to uniquely identify one diamond from another. Flawless diamonds are diamonds that have no external blemishes or internal inclusions. These stones are extremely rare and also very expensive. Internally flawless diamonds have no internal inclusions and are still very rare and quite expensive. Other clarity grades include: VVS1-VVS2 (very, very slightly included; 2 grades), VS1-VS2 (very slightly included; 2 grades), SI1-SI2 (slightly included; 2 grades) and I (included; 2 grades). A diamond clarity chart can help to give a visualized representation of what the different clarity grades look like to the naked eye.
Diamond Carat Weight - Diamonds are weighed by carat weight (not to be confused with karats for gold). A one carat diamond weighs 200 milligrams and is not an indicator of size. It is possible to have a very poorly cut 1ct diamond look small in comparison to a well-cut .90ct diamond. This is why a diamond's cut is very important and should always be evaluated alongside the given carat weight.
Diamond Cut - This is the most important characteristic of a diamond. It refers to the style of faceting arrangements that a diamond has. There are three main cuts: brilliant, modified brilliant, and step-cut. A diamond cutter is responsibile for the quality of a diamond's cut. Laboratories evaluate a diamond's cut and issue it a cut "grade". This grade helps to describe the diamond's symmetry and polish in direct relation to its proportions. The most desirable cut grade is "Excellent" or "Ideal" as this ensures maximum brilliance and light reflection.
Diamond Color - Natural diamonds come in many colors, however most diamonds on the market are referred to as "white diamonds". These diamonds are graded on a scale ranging from "D" to "Z" based on their lace of color. In other words, the less color or more "white" a diamond appears, the more expensive and rare it is. These diamonds are referred to as colorless diamonds and are graded either D, E, or F. Near colorless diamonds are graded G, H, or I and are less expensive than colorless diamonds. Diamonds graded J-Z have varying shades of yellow to brown and are often less expensive and less rare than colorless or near-colorless diamonds. Use this diamond color tool to help visualize the difference between the different diamond color grades.
Diamond Clarity - Most natural diamonds have either surface blemishes or internal inclusions that were formed as part of the natural crystal formation of the diamond. Like birthmarks, these inclusions and blemishes can help to uniquely identify one diamond from another. Flawless diamonds are diamonds that have no external blemishes or internal inclusions. These stones are extremely rare and also very expensive. Internally flawless diamonds have no internal inclusions and are still very rare and quite expensive. Other clarity grades include: VVS1-VVS2 (very, very slightly included; 2 grades), VS1-VS2 (very slightly included; 2 grades), SI1-SI2 (slightly included; 2 grades) and I (included; 2 grades). A diamond clarity chart can help to give a visualized representation of what the different clarity grades look like to the naked eye.
Diamond Carat Weight - Diamonds are weighed by carat weight (not to be confused with karats for gold). A one carat diamond weighs 200 milligrams and is not an indicator of size. It is possible to have a very poorly cut 1ct diamond look small in comparison to a well-cut .90ct diamond. This is why a diamond's cut is very important and should always be evaluated alongside the given carat weight.