4Cs of a Diamond
Learning Center Articles
4Cs of A Diamond
The 4Cs of diamonds—Color, Clarity, Cut, and Carat Weight—determine their quality and value:.
COLOR
- LIGHT YELLOW (N-R)
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- VERY LIGHT YELLOW (S-Z)
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Diamond color is graded on a scale from D to Z, with D representing completely colorless diamonds and Z indicating noticeable yellow or brown tones. Diamonds graded from D to H are classified as white diamonds, valued for their lack of color. The scale measures the presence of color, with diamonds showing less color being considered more desirable and valuable. This grading system provides buyers with a clear understanding of a diamond’s quality and visual appeal.
CLARITY
- FL / IF
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- VVS1 / VVS2
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- VS1 / VS2
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- SI1 / SI2
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- I1 / I2 / I3
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Diamond clarity shows how clean a diamond is from flaws, both inside (called inclusions) and on the surface (called blemishes). The clarity scale goes from Flawless (no imperfections even under a magnifying glass) to I3 (imperfections that you can see with your eyes). Fewer flaws mean a diamond looks better and is worth more. However, even diamonds with lower clarity grades can still look beautiful, depending on how big the flaws are and where they’re located.
CUT
- Excellent
- Very Good
- Good
- Fair
- Poor
Diamond cut shows how well a diamond is shaped and how it reflects light. An excellent cut makes the diamond sparkle brightly, while a poor cut looks dull. The cut is graded from Excellent to Poor based on its proportions and symmetry.
CARAT
- 0.10 carat
(3.00 mm)
- 0.20 carat
(3.80 mm)
- 0.30 carat
(4.00 mm)
- 0.50 carat
(5.00 mm)
- 0.70 carat
(5.50 mm)
- 1.00 carat
(6.40 mm)
- 1.50 carat
(7.30 mm)
- 2.00 carat
(8.10 mm)
- 3.00 carat
(9.40 mm)
- 4.00 carat
(10.40 mm)
- 5.00 carat
(11.00 mm)
- 10.00 carat
(13.80 mm)
- 15.00 carat
(15.70 mm)
- 20.00 carat
(20.30 mm)
- 50.00 carat
(26.00 mm)
Carat measures a diamond’s weight, with 1 carat equal to 0.20 grams. Larger diamonds are rarer and often more valuable, but carat weight alone doesn’t determine quality. A well-cut smaller diamond can look more brilliant than a poorly cut larger one.
