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THE 4 C'S OF DIAMONDS

The 4 Cs – Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat – were created by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in the 1940s and serve as the universal standard for assessing diamond quality. Each C represents a distinct quality characteristic, measured on its own scale:

Cut: Graded from Poor to Excellent on the GIA scale.

Color: Graded from J (yellow) to D (colorless).

Clarity: Graded from Included (SI2) to Flawless (FL).

Carat: Measured in metric carats, where one carat equals 200 milligrams.

THE FIRST C: CUT

The cut determines how effectively a diamond's facets interact with light, creating the gemstone's characteristic brilliance and sparkle. Unlike other diamond characteristics that are formed during the growth process, the quality of the cut is a result of the skill and precision of the diamond cutter. A masterfully cut diamond reflects optimal brilliance, spreads vibrant fire-like colors, and creates dynamic spark patterns when moved (this is called scintillation).

The GIA grades diamond cut from Excellent to Poor based on proportions that maximize light output. An Excellent cut diamond returns almost all of the light that enters the gemstone, resulting in exceptional sparkle and visual impact. In contrast, a Poor cut allows light to escape through the pavilion (bottom), resulting in a dull appearance regardless of the diamond's other qualities.

Poor Fair Good Very good Excellent

Poor

Diamonds with poor cut reflect less light and may appear darker or dull.

J I H G F E D

J Color

Near-colorless. Slightly detected color — a good value.

THE SECOND C: COLOR

Diamond color refers to the absence of color, with completely colorless diamonds being the most valuable and rare. The GIA color grading scale ranges from D (colorless) to Z, with each letter grade representing a subtle increase in color saturation. Diamonds that fall outside this range - such as vivid pink or blue - are classified as "fancy colored" and are graded differently.

Color becomes increasingly noticeable as carat weight increases, making color grade particularly important when choosing larger diamonds. Strategic color selection should balance budget considerations with:

Your chosen mounting style (yellow gold can make nearly colorless diamonds appear whiter)
Diamond size (larger diamonds reveal color more easily)
Diamond shape (step-cut emerald and asscher shapes tend to show more color than brilliant-cut diamonds, which mask the color with their superior light-diffusing properties)

THE THIRD C: CLARITY

Clarity measures how free a diamond is from inclusions and blemishes. The GIA clarity scale ranges from Flawless to Included. Most diamonds fall somewhere in between, with inclusions that are microscopic and do not affect their beauty.

The impact of inclusions varies dramatically depending on their size, number, and position. The location of an inclusion is as important as its size - an inclusion directly below the table (top facet) affects the appearance more than an inclusion hidden near the girdle (edge). This makes each diamond's clarity rating nuanced and highlights the value of viewing diamonds individually rather than relying solely on certification.

SI2 SI1 VS2 VS1 VVS2 VVS1 IF FL

SI2 — Slightly Included 2

Noticeable inclusions visible under 10x magnification and possibly to the naked eye.

Actual Diamond Size on Size 6 Hand

0.15 CT 3.00 CT

0.81 CT

THE FOURTH C: CARAT

Carat is a unit of measurement that describes the weight of a diamond, with one carat equal to 200 milligrams (about the weight of a paper clip). It is important to understand that two diamonds of identical carat weight can appear noticeably different in size depending on their shape and cut. A well-cut diamond maximizes surface area and brilliance and often appears larger than a poorly cut gemstone of the same weight.

For maximum value, you should consider diamonds just below popular weight limits (0.9 instead of 1.0 carats, 1.9 instead of 2.0 carats), where prices often drop significantly without a noticeable difference in visual size.

THE SHAPE OF THE DIAMOND

Shape refers to the outline of a diamond when viewed from above and should not be confused with cut, which describes the arrangement of facets in the gemstone. The most popular shape is still the round brilliant, and any non-round shape (such as emerald, marquise, oval, or princess) is considered a "fine shape."

Each shape offers different benefits: emerald cuts create an elegant “hall of mirrors” effect, oval and marquise shapes can make fingers look slimmer, and princess cuts add a radiant sparkle to a modern square silhouette.

In addition to appearance, shape selection involves practical considerations:

Price (fine shapes typically cost less than round brilliants of comparable quality)
Durability (pointed corners in marquise, pear, and princess cuts benefit from protective settings to prevent chipping)
Visual effect (elongated shapes like ovals and marquises often look larger per carat than round brilliants due to their greater surface area)