What are the 4 Cs of Diamonds?

Cut-

We consider cut to be the most important of the 4cs. The diamond cut does not mean the shape of the diamond. Instead, it refers to how accurately to the shape guidelines the diamond was cut. Cut is the factor that deals with how well your diamond interacts with light, delivering that brilliant sparkle we know and love diamonds for. The following 3 aspects are influenced by cut alone.

Brightness: How well white light is reflected internally and externally within a diamond.

Fire: The scattering of white light into all colours of the rainbow

Scintillation: The amount of sparkle a diamond produces, as well as the pattern of the reflections.

All of our diamond cuts are graded as excellent or ideal, the highest possible cut rating, to ensure you are receiving a bright and brilliant diamond.

Clarity- 

Clarity refers to the absence of inclusion and blemishes within the diamond, as well as how clear the diamond is. Below are the classifications as explained by the Gemological Institute of America.

• Flawless (FL) No inclusions and no blemishes visible under 10x magnification
• Internally Flawless (IF) No inclusions visible under 10x magnification
• Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1 and VVS2) Inclusions so slight they are difficult for a skilled grader to see under 10x magnification
• Very Slightly Included (VS1 and VS2) Inclusions are observed with effort under 10x magnification, but can be characterised as minor
• Slightly Included (SI1 and SI2) Inclusions are noticeable under 10x magnification
• Included (I1, I2, and I3) Inclusions are obvious under 10x magnification which may affect transparency and brilliance

Colour-

Diamond colours start at D and go to Z. Diamond colour refers to the lack of colour, with D being absolutely colourless, even under 10x magnification. The colours then progress through slightly tinting. They are graded upside down by a gemstone professional and compared to a masterfile. Our lab grown diamonds range in D-I colour, making them perfect to be set in your choice of gold colour. 

The setting of the ring and gold colour plays a huge role in perceiving the colour view of your diamond. Rose and yellow gold settings make your diamond appear slightly more warm in colour. Diamond shape also affects how visible the colour of your diamond is. Round brilliant diamonds are the best at masking lower colour ranges. Emeralds however, tend to show both colour and clarity. And cushion-cut diamonds are best at highlighting the colour, making them a brilliant cut for fancy colour diamonds. At the time, we do not have a wide selection of coloured lab-grown diamonds, however, if you have a special request, please contact our customer support for a custom order. We may have some options available. 

Carat-

Many people believe that diamond carat refers to the size of the diamond. However, it is actually a weight unit. Carat weight started with the carob seed which early gemstone traders used to counterweight their gems. Today, this measurement is universally the same milligram weight. 1 carat is 200 milligrams.  

Generally, the bigger the weight, the larger the stone. However, surface area can be different and varies from shape to shape. Certain fancy cuts such as the marquise cut can look bigger, while a cushion or an asscher can look smaller due to their depth. We recommend you not focus just on the carat weight, but the other factors of your gemstone.