Understanding the 4c's of diamond quality
The 4Cs are the defining characteristics of every diamond.
Diamond grading provides the consistent and unbiased results that the global diamond industry and diamond customers trust.
Without strict standards, the characteristics, quality and value of a diamond would be left open to interpretation.
Choosing a diamond may be a matter of preference, but evaluating a diamond is a matter of precision.
The 4Cs are the global standard.
The 4Cs transformed the way diamond quality is determined and communicated, forever changing how diamonds are evaluated, bought and sold.
The 4Cs are for everyone. This framework is both a way to better understand your diamond, and to ensure accuracy in the evaluation of your diamond’s unique characteristics.
It is the best way to ensure clear information, uniform practices, scientific grading and transparent evaluation in the global diamond industry.
Diamond Colour
Often when we talk about diamond colour, we are actually talking about the absence of colour. As subtle as color distinction may be, colour variations from the most obvious to subdued can drastically alter diamond quality and price. Luckily, diamond color isn’t a matter of opinion. Proper color evaluation is a matter of expertise.
Diamond Clarity
Every diamond is unique. Clarity characteristics are created when small crystals are trapped in the diamond. As they grow, pressure and stress can cause inclusions and blemishes—sometimes only visible under a microscope. The clarity of a diamond is based on the size, position, visibility and number of these inclusions or blemishes.
Diamond Cut
One of a diamond’s most recognizable characteristics, diamond cut, refers to how a diamond interacts with light. When you hear words like Brightness, Scintillation and Fire, they describe how masterfully a diamond is cut. Cut also describes the overall design of a diamond, including the arrangement and proportions of the diamond’s facets. There are a nearly unlimited combination of proportions possible, and all of them impact the interaction with light.
Diamond Carat Weight
Carat weight describes the weight, not the size, of a diamond. The term carat weight comes from carob seeds and has been in use since the 1500s. Today, a carat is a standard milligram measurement of weight. A metric Carat is defined as 200 milligrams and used globally.