The 4Cs of a diamond

Before even buying a diamond or a diamond jewel, an engagement ring for example, it is essential to find out about its quality and value. For this, we refer to the 4Cs of a diamond, which is an international scale for estimating the value of any diamond.

The 4Cs of a diamond refer to Carat (weight), Clarity (purity), Color (color) and Cut (Size). This scale applies to all white diamonds and is used by diamond dealers and gemologists to compare the quality of the gemstone and set their price.

Are you planning to buy a diamond jewel? Here is everything you need to know to understand the 4Cs of a diamond.

Considering a diamond in a fragmented way is a mistake. It is much more useful to admire this precious stone in a holistic way, taking into consideration each of the aspects that make it beautiful, whether it is its luster, its color, its purity or its carat.
Each diamond is unique, which allows you to choose the one that suits you the most. Thus, the lover will choose the most beautiful and dazzling heart-shaped diamond to offer it to the love of his life. The perfectionist will opt for a stone with clean shapes of an excellent size; the connoisseur will favor the one that combines a perfect balance between the 4Cs.
Depending on the budget, as well as according to the priorities of each person, it is possible to identify 3 types of approach with regard to the choice of a diamond: there are those who favor the visual effect, those who seek perfection and those opt for perfect balance. We explain to you.

Those who want to create a striking visual effect generally run after large volume diamonds with a significant carat. For this, it is recommended to choose:

• Diamond with a clarity of SI1 or SI2, a lower grade is not recommended because it will strongly affect the brilliance of the diamond,
• Find out if the inclusion is deep, otherwise it may be visible on your diamond jewelry.

If you are looking for perfection above all, then our diamond dealers advise you to turn to:

• colors of exceptional whiteness (type D or E), the diamond is therefore of crystalline transparency,
• very high purity diamonds (VVS) to ensure that no impurities will be visible,
• a stone of “excellent” size, which can only be found in major gemological laboratories (GIA for example),
• avoid diamonds exhibiting fluorescence as this will detract from its brilliance and reduce its value.

A diamond with an excellent balance between its 4Cs is one that combines the criteria below:

• a color between F and G,
• VS degree of purity, with very few inclusions that are difficult to see under the magnifying glass,
• an “excellent” or “very good” quality size,
• no fluorescence or very slight.

Whatever the choice of diamond you make, it is important to consider an essential point: the size of the stone. Indeed, it is the cut that will highlight all the value and brilliance of a diamond.