Cut, colour, clarity and carat weight are the qualities that come together to define the unique beauty of your diamond. The 4Cs also determine the value of your diamond.
While all of the 4Cs are essential, each individual has their own opinion on which C is the most important. To some, carat weight may be more important than the cut of the diamond, while others may favour the colour of their stone over its clarity.
Understanding the 4Cs, along with your personal preferences, can help you choose a diamond that suits both your lifestyle and your budget.
Carat:
• Diamonds are weighed in units called carats. A carat is measured in increments called points. One carat is equal to 100 points.
• Carat weight is the easiest of the 4Cs to determine because it is measured using a precise diamond scale.
• Two diamonds of equal carat weight can vary significantly in value depending on their cut, colour and clarity.
Colour:
• Colour refers to the body colour of the diamond. Fancy coloured diamonds aside, the most desirable diamonds are those with no colour at all.
• The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has created a scale to measure diamond colour, ranging from D (colourless) to Z (light yellow). Fancy coloured diamonds are graded separately beyond this scale.
• Most diamonds are graded “near colourless” — between G and J on the colour scale. From J grade onwards, the human eye can begin to detect a slight yellow tint.
Clarity:
• Clarity refers to the degree to which a diamond is free from imperfections, which can affect how light passes through the stone.
• Like people, diamonds have “birthmarks” that vary in size, shape, position, quantity and colour. These are known as inclusions (internal) and blemishes (external). Inclusions form deep within the earth during the diamond’s growth, while blemishes can occur during the cutting process.
• The clarity grade is determined based on the size, number, position, nature and colour of these characteristics. The clarity scale, developed by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), has 11 grades, with Flawless (F) being the highest.
Cut:
• Of the 4Cs, a diamond’s cut has the greatest influence on its fire, sparkle and brilliance, making it arguably the most important factor.
• Cut refers not only to the shape of a diamond, but more importantly to its proportions (how the angles and facets relate to one another), symmetry (the precision of the cut), and polish (the quality of the surface).
• A diamond’s cut is more complex to assess than colour, clarity and carat weight. It is determined by skilled craftsmen who shape, facet and polish the diamond to maximise its beauty.
• When grading a diamond’s cut, laboratories evaluate its brilliance, fire and scintillation.