The 4 C's

The 4 C's

The 4 C’s of Diamonds: Cut, Clarity, Color & Carat

What They Mean — and What to Prioritize When Choosing a Stone

Choosing the perfect diamond starts with understanding the 3 C’s: Cut, Clarity, and Color. These characteristics play a major role in how a diamond looks, sparkles, and fits your priorities — whether that’s brilliance, budget, or long-term value. Here’s a breakdown of each C and expert tips on what matters most.

Cut – The Sparkle Factor

What It Is:
Cut refers to how well a diamond has been shaped and faceted — not its shape (like round or oval), but how well it reflects light. A well-cut diamond sparkles brilliantly, while a poorly cut diamond may look dull, even with high clarity and color.

Grades:

  • Excellent (Ideal)

  • Very Good

  • Good

  • Fair

  • Poor

What to Prioritize:
Cut is the most important of the 3 C’s.
A well-cut diamond will appear brighter and more beautiful, even if it has lower clarity or color. If you're working within a budget, never compromise too much on cut.

Clarity – The Natural Inclusions

What It Is:
Clarity measures the presence of internal or external flaws (called inclusions and blemishes) in a diamond. Most imperfections are microscopic and invisible to the naked eye.

Grades:

  • Flawless (FL)

  • Internally Flawless (IF)

  • Very Very Slightly Included (VVS1, VVS2)

  • Very Slightly Included (VS1, VS2)

  • Slightly Included (SI1, SI2)

  • Included (I1, I2, I3)

What to Prioritize:
Aim for “eye-clean.”
You don’t need a flawless diamond — just one that looks clean without magnification. VS1 to SI1 often offers the best balance between quality and value.

Color – The Diamond’s Tint

What It Is:
Color in white diamonds refers to the presence of yellow or brown tints. The most desirable diamonds are colorless, but slightly warm tones can still look beautiful, especially in certain settings like yellow or rose gold.

Grades (D–Z):

  • D–F: Colorless

  • G–J: Near Colorless

  • K–M: Faint Color

  • N–Z: Noticeable Color

What to Prioritize:
Stick to G–H for great value.
Most people can’t see the difference between a D and a G color diamond. Choosing a near-colorless grade can save money while still looking bright and white — especially when set in white metals like platinum.

Carat – The Weight & Size

What It Is:
Carat refers to a diamond’s weight, not just its size. While more carats generally mean a larger stone, size can vary by shape and cut quality. One carat equals 200 milligrams.

What to Know:

  • Carat weight affects price more dramatically than appearance.

  • A well-cut .90 carat diamond can look nearly identical to a 1.00 carat — but cost significantly less.

  • Carat doesn’t measure beauty — it just reflects size.

What to Prioritize:
Don’t chase carat alone.
Decide how big you want the diamond to look, then balance carat with cut and setting. Slightly under “milestone weights” like 1.0 or 1.5 can save you money with minimal visible difference.

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