What Are the 4Cs of Diamonds?

Beyond the 4 Cs  

When choosing a natural diamond engagement ring, the most important thing is finding a diamond that speaks to you. While the 4Cs of diamonds—cut, color, clarity, and carat—play a role in the selection process, they shouldn’t overshadow the emotional connection you feel with your stone. Natural diamonds formed deep within the Earth, and as a result, they often carry unique markings called inclusions or blemishes. These common markings can be considered small time capsules that tell the story of the natural diamond’s formation. A diamond’s true value lies not just in its technical qualities, but in how you connect to its unique characteristics.  

Diamond Color Scale

A natural diamond’s color grade is usually a measure of how colorless the diamond is. Most natural diamonds appear colorless or near colorless to the average shopper, but actually have slight tints of yellow or brown. The closer the stone is to a colorless diamond, the rarer and generally more valuable it is. Natural diamonds are graded on a color scale ranging from D (colorless) to Z (heavily tinted brown or yellow). Diamonds typically begin to show a noticeable light yellow tint starting at the K grade on the GIA color scale. 

Diamonds can also form naturally in almost any color imaginable because of factors apparent in the earth when they form. Most of these natural “fancy” colored diamonds are so rare that their value can be limitless, and they are graded on a scale more closely describing the visible color.

Diamond Cut Grade

Not to be confused with diamond shape, the cut of a natural diamond determines how it interacts with light. The Cut Grading System assesses a diamond’s appearance, including its brightness, fire, and scintillation, which make up the way a diamond reflects light, dispersing it into color, and sparkles. 

Natural diamond cutting requires a mix of artistry and precision to maximize a diamond’s brilliance. Which is why diamond cut grade also judges a diamond based on the craftsmanship that went into it, meaning the diamond proportions, polish, and final symmetry. The cut grade ranges from Excellent cut to Poor cut and is considered the most important factor influencing a diamond’s overall value. 

The GIA (Gemological Institute of America) and other grading organizations use the round brilliant diamond as the benchmark for evaluating cut quality because it has the most precise and universally recognized proportions. 

Diamond Carat Weight

The carat of a natural diamond or gemstone is the measurement of the diamond’s weight. One carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams, or 0.2 grams. Carat weight is often used as an indicator of a diamond’s size, though two diamonds of the same carat weight can appear different in size depending on their shape and how they are cut. Full carat and larger natural diamonds are becoming rarer by the day as supply continues to decrease and only one significant deposit has been found in decades.