The 4 Cs of Diamonds
The universal standard for assessing diamond quality — Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat weight. Understanding these four factors will help you choose the perfect diamond.
Cut
The most important C
Cut refers to how well a diamond's facets interact with light. It is widely considered the most important of the 4 Cs because even a diamond with perfect color and clarity will look dull if it is poorly cut.
Color
Less is more
Diamond color is graded on a scale from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown). Colorless diamonds (D–F) are the rarest and most valuable, while near-colorless grades (G–J) offer excellent value.
Clarity
Nature's fingerprints
Clarity refers to the absence of inclusions (internal characteristics) and blemishes (external characteristics). Most inclusions are microscopic and do not affect a diamond's beauty.
Carat
Size isn't everything
Carat is the unit of weight for diamonds. One carat equals 200 milligrams. Two diamonds of equal carat weight can vary significantly in value based on cut, color, and clarity.
