What Are the 4Cs of Diamonds? (2024)

FAQs

What are the 4 C's of a diamond? ›

The 4Cs, are the globally accepted standard for assessing the quality of a diamond —color, clarity, cut and carat weight.

GIA created the first, and now globally accepted standard for describing diamonds: Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat Weight. This basic knowledge below will not only unlock the mystery of a diamond's quality, it will help you understand a diamond's value and price.

The four characteristics that determine the value of diamonds are called “4C's” and are: Carat (weight or karat), Color, Clarity (purity) and Cut (size) to which a last factor would be added, which would be fluorescence.

Laboratory grown diamonds are 100% diamonds, and just like mined diamonds our laboratory grown diamonds are evaluated according to the 4Cs of diamond grading. The 4Cs are color, clarity, cut and carat weight, and they are the globally accepted standards used to assess the quality of diamonds.

The 21st century learning skills are often called the 4 C's: critical thinking, creative thinking, communicating, and collaborating. These skills help students learn, and so they are vital to success in school and beyond.

The "Four Cs" of gem grading stand for color, clarity, cut, and carat (weight). Gemologists grade gemstones based on these properties.

As with a natural diamond you can expect your lab grown diamonds to significantly drop in monetary value after purchase. Some estimate that lab grown diamonds can drop to 10% of their original price or lower, while more generous estimators put them nearer to natural diamonds at 30% of the original price.

"VVS" stands for "Very, Very Slightly Included" or “Very, Very, Small Inclusions” (both mean the same thing!). It's one of the glittering grades in the diamond clarity scale. This term, like a diamond, is multifaceted.

The highest clarity rating for diamonds is Flawless (F). Flawless diamonds have no inclusions or blemishes visible under 10X magnification when examined by a qualified diamond grader.

​ ​VS1 is higher than the VS2 grade. The only difference between the two is a VS2 diamond's impurities can be easier to spot than those in a VS1. Imperfections in a VS2 grade diamond are similar in size and quantity to those in a VS1.

Which carat diamond is best? ›

1.00 Carat

Because it's the most popular weight, diamonds experience a price jump at 1.00 ct. The price jump is especially high for round diamonds, and, at this weight, you'll get the most savings by choosing a fancy shape.

Clarity is more important in shapes like emerald, princess, and asscher. Colour is important for cushion, radiant, pear and oval. Generally speaking, as long as you choose an eye-clean diamond, your diamond will still look beautiful in terms of clarity.

The highest color grade for lab-grown diamonds is D (colorless), followed by E and F. The best clarity grade is IF (internally flawless), followed by VVS1 and VVS2 (very, very slightly included).

You've probably heard about the 4Cs of a diamond, and you may even know that it stands for diamond cut, color, clarity and carat weight.

Unlike natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds form under controlled conditions. Thus, they're much more likely to receive higher clarity grades than natural diamonds. However, they can still contain inclusions which may affect their grade. Some of these inclusions may even help identify the stones as synthetics.

Out of the 4 C's of diamonds, the cut of the diamond is the most important. This is followed by color, clarity, and carat weight.

Choose one that stands out as a gem of distinction. To select knowledgeably, you need to know what jewelers know: the 5 C's of diamonds. Being well-versed in a diamond's color, cut, clarity, carat weight, and certification will take you a long way in ensuring you're selecting your perfect diamond.

Flawless is the top grade in the GIA Clarity Grading System. Diamonds graded Flawless don't have visible inclusions or blemishes when examined under 10-power (10X) magnification by a skilled and experienced grader.