The 4C's Diamond Guide
The 4Cs of diamond grading are Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight. These characteristics determine a diamond's quality, beauty, and value. The diamond grading is performed by an independent diamond lab such as GIA or IGI.
Cut
Cut refers to the diamond's proportions. It greatly affects the diamond's brilliance and sparkle. The cut scale ranges from Excellent to Poor at most laboratories, with Excellent cuts reflecting the most light. IGI adds a grade of 'Ideal' to denote the best cut diamonds. There are two additional grades attached to cut: polish and symmetry. The polish grade measures the surface of the diamond. If it is free of imperfections and completely smooth, it will receive a grade of 'Excllent'. Symmetry measures the individual facets. If the facets are all equidistant, the diamond will receive a grade of
'Excellent'.
Colour
Diamond colour is graded on a scale from D (colourless) to Z (light yellow or brown). Colourless diamonds (D-F) are the rarest and most valuable. D grade is given to diamonds with no colour detected and is the best possible grade.
Clarity
Clarity measures the presence of inclusions (internal flaws) or blemishes (external flaws) in a diamond. The clarity scale ranges from Flawless to Included, with most inclusions only visible under magnification. From flawless to VVS2, the lab will grade the diamonds under a microscope at x25. The lab will grade VS1 clarity and below at 10x magnification.
Carat
Carat is the standard unit of weight for diamonds, with one carat equaling 0.2 grams. Larger diamonds are typically more valuable, but the other Cs also play a significant role in determining a diamond's overall worth. Note that there are variations in the diameters of the diamonds of various shapes based on factors such as depth, girdle thickness, and other proportions.
When selecting a diamond, consider balancing these four characteristics to find the best combination of quality and value for your preferences and budget. If you have further questions, feel free to reach out. We are happy to offer additional information and suggestions.
