The 4C’s of Diamond Quality
Diamonds are not alike, whether mined from the earth or grown in a lab. While there are perfect ones, the vast majority of diamonds found in engagement rings and fine jewelry are “imperfect.” Choosing the right diamond is all about deciding how big, how perfect and how much it’s all worth to you. More specifically, choosing the right diamond is also all about the diamond cut, diamond color, diamond clarity, and diamond carat weight you want. Take a deep dive into the GIA’s 4Cs of Diamonds to inform your buying decision.
Cut Grade
Though commonly confused with diamond shape, the cut grade actually has to do with how a diamond’s facets interact with light. Diamonds are renowned for their sparkle factor, so it’s no wonder an excellent cut is so important to a diamond’s overall quality. There are lots of ways to cut a diamond—from very precise and expensively done, to cheap and sloppy. When it comes to identifying a good cut diamond, a very good diamond, an ideal cut diamond, or a super ideal diamond, there are three things that are measured: scintillation, which is the amount of sparkle a diamond emits; fire, which is the scattering of white light; and brilliance, which is determined by how the light is reflected from the diamond.14px
A common jeweler’s trick is to sell a larger diamond with a bad diamond cut at a “bargain” price. Not us. In fact, we have one of the most comprehensive grading models around to help you find the ideal cut. We would call it the “gold” standard, but we don’t want to toot our own horn.14px
Cut Grade
Interestingly enough, diamond color actually refers to the lack of color. Perfect starts at D (colorless) and goes all the way to Z (visible color). Anything beyond Z is considered a “fancy color.” Most rings sold in the U.S. are H/I/J range, so they have a cast of color, which makes them imperfect (but cheaper). Most of the time, the color grade won’t be noticeable to the naked eye. Diamonds near the lower range have more obvious tints of color. We don’t sell anything with a poor color that is detectable by an unaided eye. That’s just not our standard. If you opt for a large carat weight over perfect color or a colorless diamond, consider pairing it with a warm metal type which will make the color less obvious.
Diamond Clarity
Diamonds, whether mined or lab grown, have inclusions and blemishes that occur during the growth process. A diamond’s clarity ranges from Flawless to Included, with multiple grades in between. Can you see imperfections with the naked eye or without a 10x magnification lens? Sometimes. Few diamonds are flawless. Choosing a stunning, but also affordable, diamond clarity requires deciding how many imperfections you’re comfortable with. You should also consider the placement of the imperfections in relation to the setting it will be paired with. Bezel settings often hide imperfections near the edge, while peg-head settings may make imperfections more visible. We don’t offer anything we deem too unclear for everyday wear, but the visibility of blemishes will increase in regards to the diamond’s proportions.
Carat Weight
Carat weight does not necessarily refer to the size of the diamond, but the weight of it. Most couples opt for a one-carat lab diamond engagement ring, but the right carat weight for you will depend on how close to perfect you want the diamond grading to be and your overall budget. Though carat weight is a large contributor to a diamond’s price, all 4Cs play an important role in diamond quality and price point.
Pro tip: Choosing a slightly smaller carat weight (such as .99 cw vs 1.00 cw) can save you a lot of money as diamonds tend to increase with each quarter step.
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