The 4 C's of Diamonds

What makes a diamond sparkle? Is bigger always better?  When it comes to buying a diamond, the more you know, the easier it will be!

This first step is to educate yourself on what makes a quality diamond and how diamonds are priced. Then you can shop with the confidence you need to purchase the right diamond at the right price.

If you have done any research on diamonds at all, you’ve probably heard about the four C’s of diamond buying. 

The 4 C’s of diamonds are used by diamond graders to determine the overall quality of a diamond. They are important for you to know, too, so you know what to look for.

The 4 C’s of Diamonds are: CARAT, COLOR, CLARITY, and CUT

Understanding the 4 C’s of diamonds will help you make an educated diamond purchase. You will be able to pick out a good diamond over a so-so one, and even a great diamond from a good one, if you get these concepts down:

Carat:  The weight of the diamond; how big it is. When you are buying a diamond, know about how much you would like to spend and the range of sizes that are available for that price range.

Learn more about CARAT.

Color:  Diamonds don’t just come in clear. They come in just about every color imaginable. You don’t have to go the traditional route when it comes to purchasing a diamond.

Learn more about COLOR.

Clarity:  Very, very few diamonds are completely flawless. Most have small, microscopic flaws  called inclusions that are not visible to the naked eye. Others have inclusions that are even hard to see under magnification. Learn how clarity affects diamond sparkle and price.

Learn more about CLARITY.

Cut:   Perhaps the most important of the 4 C’s of diamonds, cut determines the overall look and sparkle of the diamond. A diamond that is cut the wrong way will not be as near dazzling as a diamond that is cut with the correct proportions and facets. Closely related to diamond cut is shape. Shape is the basic form of the diamond (heart, square, princess, etc.). Certain shapes look better when cut in a specific way.

Learn more about CUT.