Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat — learn how diamonds are graded and what to look for when buying diamond jewellery.
When shopping for diamond jewellery, you will often hear about the "4 Cs" — the universal system for grading diamond quality. Understanding these four factors will help you make an informed decision and choose a diamond that offers the best value and beauty.
Cut is the most important of the 4 Cs because it determines how well a diamond reflects light. A well-cut diamond will sparkle brilliantly, while a poorly cut diamond will appear dull regardless of its other qualities. Cut grades range from Excellent to Poor.
Colour is graded on a scale from D (colourless) to Z (light yellow). For the best balance of beauty and value, diamonds in the G to J range (near colourless) are excellent choices — they appear colourless to the naked eye but cost less than D-F diamonds.
Clarity refers to the presence of internal inclusions and external blemishes. Grades range from FL (Flawless) to I3 (Included). For jewellery, diamonds in the VS to SI range offer excellent value — the inclusions are not visible to the naked eye.
Carat is a measure of weight, not size. One carat equals 200 milligrams. Because larger diamonds are rarer, the price increases exponentially with carat weight. A 2-carat diamond costs significantly more than two 1-carat diamonds of the same quality.
Rohan Mehta
Jewellery Expert, Lumina Jewel House
