Diamonds are often synonymous with notions of luxury and elegance, known for their brilliant, sparkly appearance. We love diamond jewelry because they are timeless, long-lasting, and literally go with everything.
The 4Cs: cut, color, clarity and carat - determine the quality of a diamond. Understanding the workings of the 4Cs can help you become a savvy shopper and make informed decisions. Let’s dive into the world of diamonds and discover the ins and outs of the 4Cs.
Diamond Properties
Diamonds are rare, naturally-occurring minerals formed 100 miles below the Earth’s surface. They’re made of carbon and form under high temperatures and pressure. Every diamond has billions of carbon atoms that are locked together forever.
While most diamonds are mined, lab grown diamonds are growing in popularity. They share the same properties and appearance as mined diamonds but are eco-friendly and conflict-free.
Diamond Cut
Cut quality is the factor that fuels a diamond’s fire, sparkle and brilliance. The allure and beauty of a particular diamond depends more on cut quality than anything else.

CUT VS. SHAPE
People often use the words cut and shape interchangeably. They think of cut as the shape or outline of the diamond, rather than the arrangement of facets needed to create an attractive face-up appearance.
Round is the shape used in most diamond jewelry. All other outlines are known as fancy shapes. Examples of traditional fancy shapes include the marquise, pear and oval. Hearts, triangles and a variety of others are also gaining popularity in diamond jewelry.
Diamond Color
Evaluating a diamond’s cut uses a grading system that considers brightness, fire, and scintillation. Understanding diamond cut is essential for buyers and sellers as it can affect the value and beauty of the diamond. Well-cut diamonds are brilliant and sell at higher prices than poorly cut diamonds.
It's important to note that colorless diamonds can still have subtle color variations that can affect their value. To determine the color of a diamond, a jeweler will usually use a jeweler's loupe or microscope to examine the diamond under controlled lighting conditions.

Diamond color is all about what you can’t see. Diamonds are valued by how closely they approach colorlessness – the less color, the higher their value. (The exception to this is fancy color diamonds, such as pinks and blues, which lie outside this color range.) Most diamonds found in jewelry stores run from colorless to near-colorless, with slight hints of yellow or brown.

GIA’s color-grading scale for diamonds is the industry standard. The scale begins with the letter D, representing colorless, and continues with increasing presence of color to the letter Z, or light yellow or brown. Each letter grade has a clearly defined range of color appearance. Diamonds are color-graded by comparing them to stones of known color under controlled lighting and precise viewing conditions.
WHY DOES THE GIA COLOR GRADING SYSTEM START AT D?
Before GIA developed the D-Z Color Grading Scale, a variety of other systems were loosely applied. These included letters of the alphabet (A, B and C, with multiple A’s for the best stones), Arabic (0, 1, 2, 3) and Roman (I, II, III) numerals, and descriptions such as “gem blue” or “blue white.” The result of all these grading systems was inconsistency and inaccuracy. Because the creators of the GIA Color Scale wanted to start fresh, without any association with earlier systems, they chose to start with the letter D—a letter grade normally not associated with top quality.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) grades a diamond’s color with the following grades:
- D-F - Colorless
- G-J - Near colorless
- K-M - Slightly tinted
- N-R - Very light yellow
- S-Z - Light yellow or brown
Diamond Clarity
Diamond clarity refers to the presence or absence of internal and external characteristics, such as inclusions and blemishes in a diamond.
Inclusions are internal flaws, while blemishes are external flaws. The number, size, location, and visibility of these characteristics can affect the clarity grade of a diamond. Understanding diamond clarity is essential for anyone interested in buying or selling diamonds, as it can greatly affect the value of the diamond.
Because diamonds formed deep within the earth, under extreme heat and pressure, they often contain unique birthmarks, either internal (inclusions) or external (blemishes).

Diamond clarity refers to the absence of these inclusions and blemishes. Diamonds without these birthmarks are rare, and rarity affects a diamond’s value. Using the GIA International Diamond Grading System™, diamonds are assigned a clarity grade that ranges from flawless (FL) to diamonds with obvious inclusions (I3).
Every diamond is unique. None is absolutely perfect under 10× magnification, though some come close. Known as Flawless diamonds, these are exceptionally rare. Most jewelers have never even seen one.
The GIA Clarity Scale contains 11 grades, with most diamonds falling into the VS (very slightly included) or SI (slightly included) categories. In determining a clarity grade, the GIA system considers the size, nature, position, color or relief, and quantity of clarity characteristics visible under 10× magnification.
- Flawless (FL) - No inclusions or blemishes are visible to a skilled grader using 10× magnification
- Internally Flawless (IF) - No inclusions and only blemishes are visible to a skilled grader using 10× magnification
- Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1 and VVS2) - Inclusions are difficult for a skilled grader to see under 10× magnification
- Very Slightly Included (VS1 and VS2) - Inclusions are minor and range from difficult to somewhat easy for a skilled grader to see under 10x magnification
- Slightly Included (SI1 and SI2) - Inclusions are noticeable to a skilled grader under 10x magnification
- Included (I1, I2, and I3) - Inclusions are obvious under 10× magnification and may affect transparency and brilliance
HOW DID THE GIA CLARITY SCALE COME ABOUT?
Like the color scale, GIA’s clarity grading system developed because jewelers were using terms that were easily misinterpreted, such as "loupe clean," or "piqué." Today, even if you buy a diamond in another part of the world, the jeweler will likely use terms such as VVS1 or SI2, even if her language is French or Japanese instead of English.
Diamond Carat
Diamond carat refers to the weight of a diamond and is one of the most important factors in determining its value. Carat weight also has a direct impact on the size of the diamond, with larger carat weights typically resulting in larger diamonds—straight forward enough right?
Well here’s the catch…Two diamonds with the same carat weight can have different cut, color, and clarity grades, which can greatly affect their value. Therefore it’s crucial to balance carat weight with the other 3 Cs (cut, color, and clarity) to achieve the desired combination of size and beauty within your budget.
What Are the Best 4CS for a Diamond?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer when determining what are the best 4Cs for a diamond. The clarity, cut, color and carat are all important factors to consider, as they work together to determine its overall beauty.
Each of the 4Cs have a unique impact on the diamond's appearance and value and finding the right balance is crucial. Different combinations of the 4Cs can create a variety of diamonds that appeal to different preferences and budgets.
Which Diamond C is Most Important?
The importance of each diamond C depends on personal preference and the intended use of the diamond. While all 4Cs (cut, color, clarity, and carat) are important factors to consider when valuing a diamond, their importance can vary depending on your budget, taste and intended use.
For instance, someone seeking a larger diamond may prioritize carat weight over cut, color, and clarity. Meanwhile, someone looking for a daintier diamond may prioritize higher grade in cut and color for maximum sparkle and brilliance. It's worth noting that a diamond's cut can have the greatest impact on its beauty and brilliance, but the other Cs can also be crucial for certain purposes.
Most Popular Diamond Cut
Cut is very important to consider when purchasing diamond jewelry because it determines the shape of the diamond. Let’s dive into a few of the most popular diamond cuts:
Round Brilliant Cut
The round brilliant cut is the most popular diamond shape thanks to its timeless, classic, and versatile look. Whether set in the center of an engagement ring or repeated in an eternity ring, a round brilliant cut diamond is incredibly sparkly thanks to its 57 facets (the flat parts around the diamond).
Cushion Cut
Cushion cut diamonds are square or rectangle-shaped with gently rounded corners. There are two different types of cushion cut diamonds: old mine cut and modern cushion. The old-mine cut features 58 facets and looks chunkier than the modern cushion. A modern cushion cut diamond has 64 facets, which gives it more sparkle.
Psst…did you know that Prince Harry gave Meghan Markle a cushion cut diamond engagement ring?
Princess Cut
Behind round diamonds, princess cut diamonds are the second most brilliant. This modern cut is shaped like an inverted pyramid with beveled sides. Of all square- and rectangular-shaped diamonds, princess cuts have the most brilliance.
Common Diamond Cuts:
- Marquise - An elongated diamond with pointed ends, often set in a solitaire or halo setting
- Pear - A teardrop-shaped diamond, with a rounded end and pointed end, often used in drop earrings and pendants
- Oval - An elongated diamond with a rounded shape, known for its brilliance and ability to create the illusion of greater size and length
- Emerald - A rectangular or square diamond with step-cut facets, known for its clean lines and elegant appearance. Emerald cut diamonds require higher clarity grades due to their fewer facets, which make imperfections more visible
- Radiant - A square or rectangular diamond with brilliant-cut facets and trimmed corners, often used in engagement rings
- Asscher - A square or rectangular diamond with step-cut facets and trimmed corners, known for its high clarity and vintage look
- Heart - A romantic diamond cut with a distinctive heart shape, often used in pendants and rings
- Baguette - A long and narrow rectangular-shaped diamond with step-cut facets, often used as side stones in engagement rings.
- Trapezoid - A diamond cut with four sides, resembling a trapezoid, often used as side stones in engagement rings
- Single Cut - A vintage diamond cut with only 17 or 18 facets, often used in antique and vintage jewelry
Source : GIA" the GIA International Diamond Grading System™ "