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The Four Cs of Diamond Quality
Cut
The most important C. Cut determines how brilliantly your diamond sparkles. An excellent cut maximizes light return for exceptional fire and brilliance.
Color
Graded D-Z, from colorless to light yellow. The less color, the rarer and more valuable. D-F are colorless, G-J near colorless—both excellent choices.
Clarity
Measures internal inclusions and surface blemishes. Grades from FL (flawless) to I3. VS1-SI1 offer excellent value—inclusions invisible to naked eye.
Carat Weight
A measure of weight, not size. One carat equals 200 milligrams. Larger diamonds are rarer, but cut quality affects perceived size as much as carat weight.
Interactive Diamond Guide
Explore our interactive guide to see how each of the Four Cs affects diamond appearance and value. Click through each characteristic to learn more.
Understanding Carat Weight
Carat is the unit of measurement for diamond weight. One carat equals 200 milligrams or 0.2 grams. The term comes from the carob seed, which was historically used as a counterweight on balance scales.
Larger diamonds are exponentially rarer
Price increases exponentially with size
Size doesn't always mean better sparkle
Size comparison reference
0.5 ct
5.2mm
0.75 ct
5.9mm
1.0 ct
6.5mm
1.5 ct
7.4mm
2.0 ct
8.2mm
The Importance of Cut
Cut is the most important factor in a diamond's beauty. It determines how well the diamond reflects light, creating brilliance, fire, and scintillation.
Excellent
Maximum brilliance
Very Good
Very high brilliance
Good
Good brilliance
Fair
Slightly reduced brilliance
Table:
53-58%
Depth:
59-62.5%
Crown:
34-35°
Pavilion:
40.6-41°
Diamond Color Grading
Diamond color is graded on a scale from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown). The less color a diamond has, the higher its value.
Colorless (D-F)
Rare and most valuable. No color visible to the naked eye.
Near Colorless (G-J)
Excellent value. Color difficult to detect unless compared side-by-side.
Faint (K-M)
Slight color visible. Good value for larger diamonds.
Colorless
Near Colorless
Faint
Very Light
DEFGHIJKL
Tip: G-H colors offer the best value - they appear colorless to the naked eye but cost less than D-F grades.
Understanding Clarity
Clarity refers to the absence of inclusions and blemishes. Most inclusions are microscopic and don't affect a diamond's beauty.
FL
Flawless
No inclusions visible at 10x
IF
Internally Flawless
No internal inclusions at 10x
VVS1-2
Very Very Slightly Included
Minute inclusions at 10x
VS1-2
Very Slightly Included
Minor inclusions at 10x
SI1-2
Slightly Included
Noticeable at 10x
Eye-Clean: VS2 and above are typically eye-clean, meaning inclusions are not visible without magnification.
Complete Diamond Education
Dive deep into each aspect of diamond quality. Click any section to expand and learn from our GIA-certified gemologists.
