Diamond Basics: A Guide to the 4Cs of Diamonds
Learn more about diamonds and the basics of what makes each diamond so unique. Here, our expert gemmologists cover the 4Cs – colour, cost, clarity and cut – as well as budgeting and personalisation, within our detailed diamond guides.
What are the basics of choosing a diamond?
The value of a diamond is determined by the four characteristics that equate to its beauty and rarity. The fundamental diamond characteristics are known as the 4Cs: cut, colour, clarity and carat weight. These criteria make up a diamond’s grade, with each diamond’s grade being decided on a standardised scale made by the GIA. The higher the diamond grades, the rarer and more valuable the diamond is deemed.
The 4Cs are very important in deciding the grade of diamonds and subsequently how much they are worth. Delve into our detailed guides to explore the 4Cs more closely, see why each of the 4Cs determine how much diamonds cost, and learn how the 4Cs can help you to find the best diamond for your budget.
The 4Cs
Discover the four characteristics that determine a diamond’s beauty, quality, grade and cost.
What are the 4Cs of choosing a diamond?
When choosing a diamond, you’ll hear a lot about the 4Cs – the four basic characteristics that make up a diamond’s most notable qualities and their overall diamond grade: cut, colour, clarity and carat weight. The higher the grade of each, the higher the value and cost of the diamond. Learn which of 4Cs to prioritise and which to compromise, to find the best diamond for you and your personal budget.
Diamond Cut
When choosing a diamond, the cut is regarded as the most important factor – graded on a scale from 'poor' to 'excellent'. An 'excellent' grade for a cut diamond means the diamond has a bright, icy, inimitable sparkle that only a diamond could possess. Find out more on the importance of a diamond's cut and exactly what makes a diamond sparkle through our rich and detailed diamond cut guide.
Diamond Colour
The next most apparent characteristic of a diamond is it’s colour (or, ideally, lack thereof). Some diamonds form with yellow or brownish colour, while others remain colourless. Whilst some people may prefer a coloured diamond, it is usually a coloured gemstone such as sapphires or emeralds that are picked for engagement rings. Compare colour grades with a detailed diamond colour scale, and discover which is the best diamond colour grade for you.
Diamond Clarity
A diamond's clarity references the small marks found inside the diamond itself. This is a good characteristic to compromise on if you're looking to save money as most internal marks or inclusions are actually invisible to the naked eye. Therefore, you can prioritise a good diamond grade in cut and colour over clarity. To find out more about the intricacies of the diamond clarity scale and how to make sure you're not wasting money on the highest clarity diamond, see our diamond clarity guide.
Diamond Carat
A measurement of weight, a diamond’s carat correlates to its size. The carat weight of a diamond largely impacts how much it's worth. While many believe bigger to be better when it comes to diamonds, smaller diamonds can be equally stylish and elegant – just take a look at some celebrity engagement rings, like Margot Robbie and Charli XCX's understated rings. Discover what carat weight means, how this affects price and the right carat weight range for you and your personal budget in our diamond carat guide.
Finding the right diamond for you
Look into how diamonds are priced and top tips on choosing the best diamond for your budget, making sure you get the best value for money.
We get it, you’ve never done this before.
That’s why we have diamond and design experts on hand, who are here to guide you through every step – from understanding what carat, colour, cut and clarity mean, to designing the perfect ring.
Related Guides
From designing your ring, your way, to choosing the best diamond for your budget: explore our expertly curated guides.
