Education · 03
The 4Cs of diamonds
The 4Cs are a shared language for describing diamonds. They are useful, but no single grade tells you whether a stone is beautiful. Read them together, then look at the diamond.
Cut
Cut describes how proportions, symmetry and polish manage light. It has the greatest influence on sparkle. Round diamonds receive a formal cut grade on many reports; fancy shapes require more visual assessment because outline and facet pattern vary.
Colour
Colour grades usually run from D (colourless) down the alphabet as warmth becomes more visible. Metal and setting affect perception: a near-colourless stone can look beautifully balanced in yellow or rose gold.
Clarity
Clarity records internal inclusions and surface characteristics under magnification. We favour stones that appear clean to the unaided eye. Paying for a higher microscopic grade may not create a visible improvement.
Carat
Carat is weight, not diameter. Two stones of the same carat can face up differently depending on shape and depth. Consider millimetre dimensions, finger size and setting alongside the number.
Our starting point
For many designs, VS clarity and F colour or better offer a refined balance. Cut and the character of the individual stone remain the deciding factors.