What are the Four Cs of Diamond Quality?

Are you considering popping the question to that special someone in your life? This is an important time in your life and it should be treated as such. If you have no idea where to start, or still need some guidance in choosing the perfect diamond, allow us to help.

Let’s start simple. You have likely heard about the “Four Cs” at some point in time. But, do you know what they are? If not, that’s ok, we’ll outline it below.

The Four Cs of Diamond Quality

Color

Though most traditional diamonds appear colorless or white, some diamonds may have subtle undertones of yellow or brown. Diamonds naturally occur in many colors of the rainbow, however the best color for a diamond is colorless. A colorless, or completely clear, diamond is what most customers look for in a stone. The Gemological Institute of America has a color chart for grading diamond colors.

Clarity

The clarity score of a diamond indicates the stone’s purity and is determined by the number and location of flaws in the stone. The fewer flaws a diamond has, the more light will shine through, making the diamond beautiful and sparkly.

Carat

A carat is the weight measurement of a diamond. Just like pounds, grams or ounces are used as measurement marks, a carat-weight is the measurement mark used to measure the weight of a diamond. The larger the carat weight, the more rare the diamond becomes. However, it’s not all about size. A large diamond can have poor color or clarity, making it less valuable or rare than a smaller, clear and flawless diamond.

Cut

When found naturally, diamonds may appear like beach glass or other stones. In order to use a diamond as a gem we all know and love, it must be cut. Certain depths will allow the diamond to reflect the maximum amount of light and brilliance. Some say that the cut may be the most important factor of the four Cs because the better the cut of the diamond, the brighter the diamond appears. A diamond’s cut is not to be confused with its shape.

In addition to the four Cs, there is also the shape of diamonds to consider. Diamond shapes include round, princess, pear, cushion, heart, asscher, oval, emerald, marquise and radiant. The shape is how the diamond appears to the eye, and preferences in shape tend to vary for each individual buyer.

There is so much more to choosing a diamond than just what’s listed above, but it’s a good start! At J.M. Edwards Jewelry we can create custom jewelry, including diamond engagement rings, to suit your needs. Still want to learn more about choosing the perfect diamond? Stop by our showroom or give us a call today, we would be happy to guide you through this special moment!