Education

The 4C’s of Diamonds

The 4C’s of diamonds are the universal standard for evaluating a diamond’s quality and value. They are:

Color – Measures how colorless a diamond is, ranging from D (colorless) to Z (yellow/brown tint).
Clarity – Evaluates the presence of internal flaws (inclusions) and external imperfections (blemishes), graded from Flawless (FL) to Included (I3).
Carat Weight – The weight of a diamond, with 1 carat = 200 mg. Larger diamonds are rarer and more valuable.
Cut – Determines how well a diamond reflects light, influencing its brilliance, fire, and sparkle. Graded from Excellent to Poor.

In-Depth Explanation of Each C

1. Color

Diamonds are graded based on how colorless they are using the GIA Color Scale, which ranges from D (completely colorless) to Z (visible yellow or brown tint).

D-F: Completely colorless, rare, and most valuable.
G-J: Near colorless, slight warmth but still high quality.
K-M: Faint yellow hue, more noticeable in larger diamonds.
N-Z: Noticeable yellow/brown, less valuable.

💎 Tip: The less color, the higher the value!

2. Clarity

A diamond’s clarity is determined by natural imperfections, either inside the diamond (inclusions) or on its surface (blemishes).

FL (Flawless): No inclusions/blemishes even under 10x magnification.
IF (Internally Flawless): No internal inclusions, only surface marks.
VVS1/VVS2 (Very Very Slightly Included): Extremely tiny inclusions, almost impossible to see.
VS1/VS2 (Very Slightly Included): Minor inclusions, only visible under magnification.
SI1/SI2 (Slightly Included): Noticeable inclusions, visible under magnification.
I1/I2/I3 (Included): Obvious inclusions, affecting transparency and brilliance.

💎 Tip: VS2 or higher is ideal for maximum clarity without overpaying.

3. Carat Weight

Carat refers to the weight of the diamond, not its size.

1 Carat = 200 mg
A 1-carat diamond can vary in visual size depending on its cut.
Larger carat weights are rarer and more expensive, but a well-cut smaller diamond can look bigger than a poorly cut larger one.

💎 Tip: Prioritize cut quality over carat size for better sparkle!

4. Cut

Cut determines how well a diamond interacts with light. It affects brilliance (brightness), fire (rainbow effect), and scintillation (sparkle when moved).

Excellent: Maximum brilliance, reflects nearly all light.
Very Good: Great sparkle, but slightly less than excellent.
Good: Decent brilliance, but some light loss.
Fair: Limited brilliance, not as visually appealing.
Poor: Dull appearance, loses most light.

💎 Tip: A well-cut diamond looks larger and more brilliant, even with a lower carat weight!