Diamond Guide
The Four C’s
Diamonds are not only ‘a girl’s best friend’, they can also be an excellent investment. When shopping for diamond jewellery, the most important points for judging quality are the Four C’s – cut, carat, clarity and colour.
The following guide explores these vital points, so you can be sure to buy diamond jewellery that you’ll treasure forever.
01
Cut
Diamonds are crystals made of pure carbon, one of the hardest substances known. The only object able to cut a diamond is another diamond.
Cut and shape are different: the cut is about the facets and angles that reflect light and brilliance, while the shape is the geometric form after cutting and polishing. The round “brilliant” cut is arguably one of the best for bringing out a diamond’s beauty.
Carat
Carat is the traditional unit of measurement for gemstone weight, equivalent to one-fifth of a gram. Diamonds that are larger in carats tend to be more expensive, but cut and clarity also affect pricing significantly.
Clarity
Most diamonds have inclusions or flaws. These are often invisible to the naked eye, but they affect a jeweller’s valuation and the flow of light that makes the stone dazzle.
Diamonds with no flaws are extremely rare and are graded FL (flawless) or IF (internally flawless). The grading scale for the other levels is:
- Imperfect (flaws visible to the naked eye)I1 – I3
- Slightly Imperfect (smaller flaws)SI1 – SI2
- Very Slightly Imperfect (tiny flaws)VS1 – VS2
- Very Very Slightly Imperfect (miniscule flaws)VVS1 – VVS2
Colour
A chemically pure diamond is perfectly transparent, but naturally formed diamonds almost always carry trace elements of yellow or brown. The more impurities a white diamond contains, the less it is worth.
Diamond colour is graded from D (colourless) to Z (light yellow). D, E and F are the best grades in their class, and the price reflects this. A quality diamond also needs good clarity and cut to showcase its brilliance.
Black, pink, blue, green and yellow diamonds, especially with intense colouration, are extremely rare and tend to be pricey.
Need help choosing?
Talk to our jewellery experts for personalised guidance on your diamond.
