The 4C's of Diamonds

Anyone who wants to know more about diamonds, especially if they are in the market to buy one will find it is essential to familiarize themselves with what is known as the 4Cs. This is a universally standardized method for expressing quality components of a colorless diamond. 

Professionals will tell you that many diamonds, even extremely important ones can be sold ‘on paper’. This means as long as they can see all the details of a diamond expressed by its 4Cs, they’ll know what they are getting even if they don’t have the stone in front of them.

Before there was a standardized method of communicating diamond quality components, you’d have to see a stone in person to judge its value. But GIA (Gemological Institute of America) transformed the diamond industry by creating this uniform way to communicate the key details of a diamond’s quality. 

What do the Four Cs Mean?

The Four Cs is a method of expressing these 4 quality components of a diamond, namely--- 

• Cut 
• Clarity
• Color
• Carat Weight
  
  

Correct diamond grading relies on strict standards, not someone’s opinion. That is the only way to assure objective diamond grading.

Let’s look at each one, so you’ll know exactly what professionals look for and what you should be doing that too. Keep in mind though, that each one of these 4Cs impacts the value of the diamond. As a consumer, you may be more interested in some of these Cs over other. For example, you may want the largest stone you can possibly buy. If that’s the case, then perhaps other Cs on this list can take a backseat. Maybe you’ll accept a bit lower color grade in order to get the largest stone. Or perhaps, you’ll be amenable to a lower clarity grade in order to get the largest stone. 

You’ll be the judge after you become well versed in each of the 4Cs.

Cut

The Cut category is not what you may think. Some consumers misunderstand the cut grade. They think it means the shape that the diamond was cut into—like a round stone, or perhaps a pear shaped diamond. But actually Cut actually assess how well-proportioned (or not) the diamond’s dimensions are. This has a huge bearing on how beautiful the stone is—how appealing it looks. A well cut stone also plays a large role in its balance and brilliance. A superbly cut stone will have a major influences how well the stone interacts with light performance (making it sparkle the most) and it can impact the fire and scintillation of the stone. That means how lively the stone looks, and how the reflected light back to the eye of the viewer. Remember this, the diamond cut, that first measurable component is considered the most important of all the 4Cs. So no matter which diamond you choose, you’ll want to prioritize your stone’s cut.  So whether you’re considering natural or LGD, lab-grown diamonds, aim for the very best diamond cut grade your budget will permit. You’ll be happy that you paid close attention to this detail.

Clarity

The Clarity grade expresses the presence or absence of internal inclusions (flaws) and surface blemishes on a diamond. This 4C addresses clarity issues so you understand the stone’s quality in relation to its complete transparency of lack thereof. This impacts on the stone’s value of course.

So the number of inclusions, their position on the stone, and even if they are light or dark and prominent, all affect its clarity level. Not every inclusion is a big deal. If it’s light—and many are, and if it is in a place on the stone (near the girdle) that will be covered up by its mounting, then it doesn’t take away from its beauty.

The 4Cs Clarity scale was carefully developed by GIA and rates the stone’s clarity from Flawless, which is the highest possible clarity rank, to Included—which are the lowest clarity levels of a diamond. Using specialized instruments, a professional assess the diamond clarity under 10x magnification. This will allow the gemologist or retailer to closely inspect the diamond for any imperfections — or lack thereof — up close. It’s also a uniform way of examining the stone. All professionals, including laboratory personnel use the 10x magnification for uniformity. The clarity of the diamond being inspected is added to its final grading certificate. 

As mentioned, not all inclusions are visible on a diamond. Those which are light colored or located in an inconspicuous area will have little impact on its beauty, and none on its durability. If you’re set on having a high-clarity diamond, speak with your professional bout getting one that is eye clean—which means it looks clear to the naked eye. This is an important detail.

GIA standardized the nomenclature of its entire 4Cs, with a uniform clarity grading language too. Their 6-category, 11-level Clarity Scale is understood globally to express each level of clarity within a diamond.

Flawless (FL) 

No visible inclusions or surface blemishes under 10x magnification. 

Internally Flawless (IF)  

No inclusions are seen using10x magnification. But some minute surface blemishes may be visible under a microscope.  

Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1 - VVS2)

Inclusions are so miniscule that they are difficult for even a skilled grader to detect using 10x magnification. 

Very Slightly Included (VS1 and VS2)

Inclusions recognized under 10x magnification are considered to be minor.   

Slightly Included (SI1 and SI2) 

Inclusions are apparent using10x magnification.   

SI1 and SI2 stones may exhibit detectable inclusions without the use of magnification.

Included (I1, I2, and I3) 

Interior and exterior flaws are obvious under 10x magnification and may affect transparency, brilliance and beauty.  

Color

This is less intuitive because the color grade is for colorless diamonds. But most natural diamonds have some levels of body color that are less than completely colorless. For many in this category, it is so slight that only a professional can ascertain any nuanced color. 

So in this capacity, diamond color expresses the degree of lack of color. Color is the 2nd most critical value of the 4Cs. Colorlessness means the more colorless diamonds are scarcer. Higher diamond grades refer to completely colorless stones. 

Rarely will a diamond be 100% void of any body color. When there is body color, it may appear very slightly gray, slightly brownish, or even minutely yellow.

Here are the 5 ranges a diamond is color graded.

Colorless

D E F----no body color discernable whatsoever

Near Colorless

G H I J---appears colorless to the consumer

Faint Color

K L M---negligible color which does not detract from its beauty

Very Light Color

N O P Q R---these stones may benefit from being mounted in yellow gold or rose gold which will detract from the body color

Obvious Color

S T U V W X Y Z---obvious (usually yellowish) body color

Carat Weight

The word carat when it refers to diamond grading is often misunderstood. It simply means a diamond's weight on a scale, not its visual size. Most consumers errantly believe that a larger carat weight is preferred over a smaller carat weight. That’s not always true, especially if the other 4Cs are of low grade. But obviously this is a personal decision the consumer will make. Some shoppers would rather have a large stone, even if the color is lower on the scale, or the clarity is down the ranking. Also a large carat weight diamond that is cut poorly may look smaller or less attractive than a smaller diamond with excellent cut. 

Since all the 4Cs matter when assessing a diamond’s grade, think of what matters most to you. Then you can speak with your diamond professional, and both come up with options that will deliver the diamond of your dreams—all while staying on budget. 

The 4C’s Are A Uniform Diamond Language 

Once GIA’s specific diamond language was adopted worldwide, consumers, retailers, vendors and others could all accurately assess the diamond being considered. This resulted in uniform diamond language and greater understanding about diamonds, whether they were in front of you or around the globe. 

GIA will agree that before this standardized way of describing diamonds was created, there was universal chaos in the diamond world. No one knew precisely what a specific diamond looked like. But the founder of GIA Robert Shipley, in the mid-1940s first coined the phrase “the 4Cs of diamond quality’ and then revolutionized the way we spoke about diamonds various components ---all which bear heavily on the beauty, durability and value of a diamond.

Now we do have this method. Once you learn about the 4Cs, you will become proficient in describing a stone or reading its certification with confidence. The struggle is over, and you can buy diamond jewelry with confidence. 

This universal diamond language makes buying and selling diamonds more structured, because the stone’s quality standards aren’t subjective to each person—they are uniformly expressed and understood around the world.