Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder, but the 4 C's are the characteristics that truly identify the rarity and value of a diamond. Collectively, they are all as important as each other, but the principle factor involved with a smart diamond purchase is confidence in a jeweller. Approaching a jeweller you have confidence in, will give you that re-assurance of your diamond purchase that meets your criteria and budget.



Carat
Carat refers to the weight of a diamond. Larger sized diamonds are found less frequently in mines, giving them a greater value.

Clarity
Most diamonds have a presence of inclusions. Whether they are noticeable to the naked eye or under a loupe, nature has ensured that each diamond is as individual as the person who wears it.

Colour
The colour clarifies the degree to which a diamond is colourless. A diamond's colour is graded with a chart developed by GIA (Gemological institution of America), using letters, starting from D (colourless) to Z.

Cut
With suitable proportions and angles, a diamond's true brilliance and beauty may be revealed.


Carat Weight of a Diamond

The weight of a diamond is traditionally measured in terms of carat, a unit of weight with 1 carat equaling .20 grams. Each carat is divided into 100 points, allowing for a very precise measurement of the diamond. For instance a diamond that weighs .50 carat may be referred to as a “half-carat” or a “fifty-pointer”.
Two diamonds of equal carat weight will have significantly different costs because of the other factors: cut, color and clarity. As a diamond increases in size and carat weight, the price will increase at an increasing rate because larger diamonds are more rare and thus more valuable




Diamonds come in all colours, but most of them are totally or nearly colourless. Most colourless diamonds actually have a slight yellow, brown or grey hue. Colours are graded on a range from D to Z, where D represents totally colourless, and Z represents fancy yellow. Each letter, D to Z, corresponds to a narrow band of possible shades for a colour.  Generally, the more yellow a diamond, the less valuable it is.



Carat Weight
A carat represents exactly 0.2 grams, or 200 milligrams. A carat is divided into 100 units called “points.” A 50-point diamond therefore weighs half a carat. It is obvious that the value of a diamond depends on its carat weight. A single 50 point stone, for example, is more expensive than two 25 point stones. A large stone is rarer and therefore more expensive than several small stones that add up to the same weight.


Guide to Diamond Shapes
The round brilliant cut is the most popular shape but if you’re looking for something different, there are plenty of other shapes available. A diamond’s shape refers to its physical form and each diamond shape is very different, possessing unique characteristics. Even though shape is not a part of the 4 C’s of Diamonds, this element will have an impact on the appearance of your diamond. Since each diamond shape is cut to different specifications, they reflect light differently, giving each shape a unique fire and brilliance.

Popular Diamond Shapes

 The round brilliant cut diamond is the most popular shape of diamond. For hundreds of years, diamond cutters have been working with this cut to maximize its brilliance and fire. While this cut offers great flexibility within the 4 C’s, you will want to select higher quality grades to bring out the most brilliance within a round diamond.

 Princess cut diamonds are exceptionally brilliant because of the way they are cut and are available in both square and rectangular shapes. The color that is emitted from princess cut diamonds is very unique. While the color of other diamond is displayed mainly in the center, the princess cut diamonds show distinct color in each of the corners as well.

A marquise cut diamond is a perfect shape for maximizing carat weight by emphasizing the size of the diamond. Its unique shape creates the effect of longer, more slender hands and fingers. The outline of a diamond is determined by its length to width ratio, which also provides an image of the shape and look of the diamond.

Sometimes called a pillow-cut diamond, the cushion cut is a timeless cut that has earned its name for its pillow shape. Cushion cut diamonds tend to have impeccable brilliance and clarity in their appearance which can be attributed to their rounded corners and larger facets. These diamonds are available in square and rectangular shapes.

Emerald cut diamonds have a unique optical appearance because of the rectangular facets step-cut into the diamond’s pavilion. This cut showcases the diamond’s original clarity beautifully because of its large rectangular table which will also make inclusions and color more apparent.

Perfect for those looking for a unique style, radiant cut diamonds feature uniquely trimmed corners which combines the lines of an emerald cut with the brilliance of a round diamond. The sparkle of this diamond cut looks beautiful when combined with a variety of other diamond cuts.

Combining round and marquise cuts, the teardrop style of pear shaped diamonds is exceptional. The slender pear shape will give fingers and hands a slimmer appearance while creating a soft and delicate look. Pear shaped diamonds are cut to produce maximum brilliance, so it’s important to look for excellent symmetry.

Combining round and marquise cuts, the teardrop style of pear shaped diamonds is exceptional. The slender pear shape will give fingers and hands a slimmer appearance while creating a soft and delicate look. Pear shaped diamonds are cut to produce maximum brilliance, so it’s important to look for excellent symmetry.

Asscher cut diamonds are often mistaken for an emerald cut because of its similar cut style; however an asscher is square rather than rectangular. Created in the early 1920s, the asscher cut has recently resurged in popularity, especially amongst celebrities.



1) When a diamond is ideally cut, light rays from all sides are bent towards the center of the stone and are reflected back through the top in a blaze of light. 

2) In a diamond that is cut too deeply, much of the light is reflected to the opposite facets at the wrong angle and is lost through the side. The diamond may appear black in the center. 

3) In a diamond cut too shallow, light “leaks” through the bottom of the eye may see a dull reflection in the diamond.


Grading the Cut of a Diamond
A diamond’s cut grade is the only factor that is influenced by a human hand. A master cutter will apprentice for at least 10 years before touching a 1 carat diamond. These highly-skilled craftsmen bring the ultimate beauty of the diamond to life by adhering to specific parameters in order to maximize sparkle. Several individual factors are evaluated to determine the cut grade of a diamond including its proportions, depth, symmetry, polish and finish.

The GIA uses the following scale to grade round brilliant diamonds:

EXCELLENT
An excellent cut diamond has a maximum amount of scintillation, brilliance and fire. Light enters the diamond and refracts back out with very little light lost. This exceptional grade represents roughly the top three-percent of diamonds.

VERY GOOD
A diamond with a very good cut grade will reflect most of the light and will appear somewhat similar to an ideal cut diamond. This diamond will have superior sparkle, brilliance and fire.

GOOD
Reflecting most of the light entering the diamond, this diamond cut has above average beauty. Diamonds with this grade won’t have as much brilliance and fire as higher cuts.

FAIR
Diamonds graded Fair don’t have the optimum brilliance and fire, as they allow a significant amount of the entering light to exit on the bottom or side of the diamond instead of through the top. These are still quality, but not nearly as well performing as a finer cut.

POOR
Diamonds with a poor cut may appear dull because the majority of the light is lost through the bottom or sides of the diamond. With a noticeable decrease in sparkle, even an untrained eye can see a sharp difference between this and higher cuts.
The American Gem Society grades diamonds based on a ten-point scale, which can be seen below.