The 4Cs of Diamonds

When shopping for a diamond, you'll often hear about the "4Cs." These are the four main characteristics used to assess a diamond's quality and value: Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat weight. Understanding these factors will help you make an informed decision when choosing your perfect diamond.

Cut

The cut of a diamond refers to its proportions, symmetry, and polish. It's the most important of the 4Cs because it has the greatest impact on a diamond's sparkle and brilliance.

  • Excellent cut: Maximizes brilliance and fire. Light enters through the table and reflects from one facet to another before reflecting back through the top of the stone.
  • Very Good cut: Reflects most of the light that enters the diamond, with only slight reductions in brilliance.
  • Good cut: Reflects a majority of light, but not as much as a Very Good or Excellent cut.
  • Fair or Poor cut: Allows light to escape from the sides or bottom, reducing brilliance.

Color

Diamond color is graded on a scale from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown). The differences between grades are subtle and often invisible to the untrained eye.

  • D-F: Colorless
  • G-J: Near colorless
  • K-M: Faint color
  • N-R: Very light color
  • S-Z: Light color

Colorless diamonds (D-F) are the most valuable, but near-colorless diamonds (G-J) offer excellent value and appear colorless to most observers.

Clarity

Clarity refers to the presence of inclusions (internal flaws) or blemishes (external imperfections) in a diamond.

The GIA Clarity Scale includes:

  1. Flawless (FL)
  2. Internally Flawless (IF)
  3. Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1 and VVS2)
  4. Very Slightly Included (VS1 and VS2)
  5. Slightly Included (SI1 and SI2)
  6. Included (I1, I2, and I3)

Most diamonds have some inclusions, but those that are Flawless or Internally Flawless are extremely rare and valuable.

Carat Weight

Carat is the standard unit of weight for diamonds and other gemstones. One carat equals 0.2 grams.

  • Larger diamonds are typically more valuable, but two diamonds of equal carat weight can have very different values depending on the other three Cs.
  • The price per carat increases significantly with size due to the rarity of larger diamonds.
  • However, a smaller diamond with excellent cut, color, and clarity can be more valuable than a larger diamond with poor qualities.

Remember, while carat weight is important, it's the interplay of all 4Cs that determines a diamond's overall beauty and value. At Cushion Cut Company, we're here to help you find the perfect balance of these qualities to suit your preferences and budget.