The 4’Cs Of Diamond Quality: A Detailed Guide

What Are The 4C’s of Diamond Quality?

 

Diamond quality is the measurement of how ‘pure’ a diamond is, rated against a set of certain characteristics known as the 4C’s. These infamous stones are one of the most popular choices when it comes to precious gemstones, and are known as a symbol of love and durability. But what you may not know is that there are loads (& I mean loads!) of things to consider when purchasing a diamond and determining its quality, so let’s break it down…

 

The 4c’s 

All diamonds purchased and used at Artisan are certified & free from conflict. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has been grading diamonds since the 1940s and founded ‘The 4c’s of Diamond Quality’ which is now used as the universal method for assessing diamonds.
In order for a diamond to be ranked as ‘flawless’, it must rank at the top for each of the 4 C’s; but even if a gemstone does manage to hit the top of every scale, (I can assure you it will definitely carry a premium price tag!) it’s not always guaranteed to be any more stunning or sparkly than a diamond that’s more budget friendly. This is because to determine the overall value of the diamond, all of the ‘4C’s’ are factored together, so to find your ‘perfect’ diamond, you need to carefully consider all of these aspects.
Despite a diamond having a high ranking, it may not be best suited to you – it’s all dependent on what you are using your diamond for. But this being said, I’ve written out all of the specifics and broken them down into 4 separate and detailed blog posts (I warned you there was loads to consider!) so you can educate yourself on all things diamond and feel more confident when it comes to purchasing one of these twinkly gemstones for yourself.

 

Colour 

It’s no secret that diamonds can be found in a variety of gorgeous colours, from blue to black to yellow, but when talking about diamond colour, it’s important to remember that you are referring to absence of colour within the stone. Grading the colour of a diamond assesses any natural tint found present within ‘white’ (or transparent) diamonds, which are typically the most traditional choice for many engagement rings.
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Clarity 

Diamond Clarity refers to the assessment of flaws found within a diamond, measuring the stones ‘purity’ when inspected under 10x magnification. Clarity is often impossible to notice with the naked eye, so many rely on getting the help of trained professionals to assess their diamonds.
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Cut 

Diamond’s are renowned for their incredible sparkle and it’s their cut that gives them this infamous glitter-like twinkle. Diamond cut refers to the symmetrical facets, and the quality of the stones angles and proportions. It’s a measure of how these properties determine the amount of light that is able to enter in and reflect out of the stone, allowing the diamonds to vibrantly sparkle underneath any light.
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Carat Weight 

Carat weight (otherwise known as ct) is a measurement used specifically for the physical weight of gemstones, and has been the unit of diamond measurement since 1907.
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…Okay… so that was information overload! 

 

But as you now know, there are many aspects that go into determining the ‘perfect’ diamond. Really, it all depends on what you are looking for, how you are planning to use the gemstone in your chosen design and the overall appearance you have in mind for your finished piece.
Whilst it’s important to acknowledge the 4’cs so you can better understand the stone you are buying, ultimately, the most important thing is that you are happy with your chosen diamond. So to help take the pressure off of diamond hunting, you can book an appointment and speak to one of our in house jewellery experts, who will do all the hard work for you!