The 4 Cs of
Diamonds

The 4 Cs: The Four Foundations of Diamond Beauty.

The 4 Cs (Cut, Colour, Clarity, and Carat) are the main factors used to describe and evaluate a diamond. They help buyers understand a diamond’s quality, appearance, and value.

1. Cut
Cut refers to how well a diamond has been shaped and polished. It is one of the most important factors affecting a diamond’s beauty because it controls how light enters, reflects, and leaves the stone. A well-cut diamond can appear bright and lively, while a poorly cut diamond may look dull. Cut includes factors such as proportions, symmetry, and polish.

2. Colour
Diamond colour refers to how much body colour a diamond has. For most white diamonds, the ideal is a colourless appearance. The standard grading scale generally ranges from D (colourless) to Z (light yellow or brown). The less noticeable the colour, the higher the grade within this scale. Some diamonds, called fancy-colour diamonds, have strong colours such as blue, pink, yellow, or green and are graded differently.

3. Clarity
Clarity describes the presence of internal features called inclusions and surface features called blemishes. Diamonds with fewer and smaller imperfections are usually considered more valuable. Clarity grades range from Flawless (FL) to Included (I), depending on the number, size, position, and visibility of these features under magnification.

4. Carat
Carat refers to the weight of a diamond, not its physical size. One carat equals 0.2 grams and is divided into 100 points. Larger diamonds are generally rarer, so carat weight can significantly affect price.

Together, the 4 Cs provide a standard way to compare diamonds and understand their quality and value.