The 4Cs of Diamonds
When it comes to selecting a diamond, quality matters. The 4Cs — Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight — are the global standard for evaluating diamonds. Understanding them will help you choose a stone that fits both your style and your budget.
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Diamond Cut
A diamond’s cut is what makes it shine, it is the most important sparkle factor. Even if it came with perfect color and clarity, a poorly cut diamond will look dull and ordinary.
Excellent / Ideal Cut: Maximum brilliance and fire.
Very Good Cut: Bright.
Good Cut: Bright with slightly less sparkle.
Fair / Poor Cut: Dull or dark appearance.
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Daimond Color
Diamonds are graded on how colorless they appear, from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow/brown). It shows the purity of white.
G, H, I, J: These diamonds are near colorless, they have slight undertone of yellow. G and H color is virtually undetected by most of person and they are great value which offer the best balance of beauty and value.
K, L, M: They are faint color, you could see they are yellow with you naked eyes, even without comparing to a higher color grade diamond.
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Clarity
Clarity refers to tiny inclusions or blemishes formed during creation.
FL/IF: Flawless to Internally Flawless
VVS1–VVS2: Very, very slight inclusions (hard to see even under magnification)
VS1–VS2: Very slight inclusions (not visible to the naked eye)
SI1–SI2: Slight inclusions (may be visible under close inspection)
I1–I3: Included (visible flaws, reduced sparkle)
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Carat – The Weight of Beauty
Carat refers to the diamond’s weight, not its actual size.
1 carat = 0.2 grams
Larger carat = rarer and more valuable
