GIA 4cs Diamond Quality

Evaluating Diamond Quality

Each of the 4 C’s of diamonds (Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat) play a role in a diamond’s beauty. The grades a diamond carries in these four areas give a clear idea of the diamond’s quality, and by extension the right price you should be willing to pay.

As a general rule, we suggest a high quality Cut above all else—as this greatly impacts a diamond’s beauty and brilliance—while balancing a fine line on Colour and Clarity to get the best bang for your money

What are the 4 C’s of diamonds?

A diamond’s quality is determined by the 4C’s: 

• Cut: Quality of the angles, proportions, facets, and finishing details.
• Colour: How colourless the diamond is. 
• Clarity: How clean the diamond is of inclusions and blemishes.
• Carat: The weight of the diamond.

These four qualities of a diamond are the key components that impact its beauty and structure. The 4C’s interact with each other within the diamond. They dictate how the diamond appears and how high quality it is. As an example, the diamond’s ability to reflect light back to your eyes depends primarily on cut quality but also on colour and clarity. 

The four diamond characteristics are graded by professionals on a consistent scale, giving you a tool to evaluate diamonds. By reviewing the 4C’s of a particular diamond, you can better determine if the diamond is of high-quality.

 

* GIA Diamonds

 

Knowing what to look for and how to balance the 4 C’s will help you get the best value for the perfect diamond for you.