Everything you need to know about the 4Cs — Cut, Colour, Clarity, and Carat — and how to choose the perfect diamond for your piece.
The First C
The cut of a diamond determines its brilliance. It is not about the shape (e.g., round, oval), but how effectively the diamond returns light to the eye. A well-cut diamond will appear more brilliant and even larger than a poorly cut diamond of the same carat weight.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| Ideal / Excellent | Reflects nearly all light. Rare and exceptionally beautiful. |
| Very Good | Reflects almost as much light as ideal. Excellent value. |
| Good | Reflects most light. Represents a good balance of quality and budget. |
| Fair / Poor | Light escapes from the bottom or sides. Noticeably duller. |
The Second C
Diamond colour is actually graded by the absence of colour. The GIA grades diamonds on a scale from D (colourless) to Z (light yellow or brown).
D, E, F: Colourless. Extremely rare and highly valued.
G, H, I, J: Near Colourless. Great value; colour is typically unnoticeable to the untrained eye.
K, L, M: Faint Colour. A slight warm tint is visible.
The Third C
Clarity refers to the absence of inclusions (internal flaws) and blemishes (surface flaws). Because diamonds form deep within the earth under extreme heat and pressure, almost all diamonds have some unique identifying marks.
FL / IF: Flawless / Internally Flawless.
VVS1 / VVS2: Very, Very Slightly Included.
VS1 / VS2: Very Slightly Included.
SI1 / SI2: Slightly Included.
I1 / I2 / I3: Included (Flaws may be visible to the naked eye).
The Fourth C
Carat is the measurement of a diamond's weight, not its physical size. One carat equals 0.20 grams. While a higher carat weight typically means a larger diamond, the cut proportions also heavily influence how large the diamond appears.
Every Caratspun diamond is guaranteed to be natural, untreated, and ethically sourced in compliance with the Kimberley Process. All diamonds over 0.30 carats come with a GIA grading report.
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