A diamond is usually purchased with the understanding of its ‘four C’s’ Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat. Each of the diamond’s 4 Cs is essential in evaluating its quality, worth, and price. Being aware of each of these attributes will enable you to make smart decisions, whether you are buying an engagement ring or a piece of fine jewelry. 

1. Cut- Most Important Of The Four C’s  

The cut of the diamond will determine its brilliance, fire, and sparkle. If a diamond possesses all other attributes but is cut poorly, it will appear dull. The cut grade begins with Excellent and can drop all the way down to Poor, based on how well the light is reflected by the diamond’s facets.  

Ideal/Excellent Cut: Offers the greatest brilliance with maximum sparkle.  

Very Good Cut: Offers great value while reflecting the most light.  

Good Cut: Still a suitable choice, but some light will escape.  

Fair/Poor Cut: Referred to dull diamonds that lack brilliance.  

A diamond aesthetic is far most impacted by the cut, giving cut the first priority when selecting a diamond from the other three. 

Colorless diamonds is rated D, as they border colorless, while Z diamonds are tinted yellow or brown in color. The closer the diamond is to being colorless, the less common it is, thus increasing its price.

D-F (Colorless): No hue, marking them clear and transparent.

G-J (Near Colorless): Shows color in certain settings, but generally looks white.

K-M (Faint Color): Mild colors visible, cheaper in price.

N-Z (Noticeable Color): Features undesirable yellowish or brownish colors.

When comparing the price and qualities of the near-colorless diamonds (G-H) and D-F diamonds, G-H diamonds win, because they are more affordable and appear almost colorless.

Clarity is all about the inclusions (internal defects) and blemishes (external defects) that a diamond has. Although most diamonds have some level of imperfection, a number of them are so minute they go completely undetected by the human eye.

Flawless (FL): Completely devoid of inclusions and blemishes (for the most part, it’s rare). 

Internally Flawless (IF): Displays no internal flaws, only some surface blemishes. 

VVS1-VVS2 (Very Very Slightly Included): Inclusions are present, but hard to detect with a 10x lens. 

VS1-VS2 (Very Slightly Included): Minor inclusions are present which are imperceptible without magnifying lenses. 

SI1-SI2 (Slightly Included): Show inclusions that are often undetectable to the naked eye, but not always. 

I1-I3 (Included): Involves visible inclusions which affect the brilliance and durability of the diamond. 

While still appearing eye-clean, VS1-SI1 diamonds offer a balanced option in terms of budget, appearance, and price.

Carat indicates the weight of the diamond rather than its size. 1 carat is equivalent to 0.2 grams. Diamonds that weigh more are more costly because they are less easily obtainable, but carat weight alone does not signify the diamond’s beauty.

For instance, a well cut diamond weighing 0.90 carats has the appearance of a 1.0 carat diamond, but is priced significantly lower.

By focusing on cut instead of carats, a more stunning diamond is achieved.

Knowing the 4Cs: Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat, make it easier to decide on the perfect diamond without compromising its beauty or budget. Well spent on cut guarantees the most brilliance, color and clarity can be less delicate without having an awful visual impact, and with careful thought towards all four factors, the diamond that meets your needs and budget will be achieved.