The 4 Cs of Buying A Diamond

Mar 9, 2024 Michael Clevenger
The 4 Cs of Buying A Diamond
All The World of deBoulle

What are the 4 Cs, and how can you use them when buying a diamond?


The 4 Cs are the four characteristics traditionally used when determining the quality and value of a diamond. The 4 Cs are carat, cut, clarity, and color. If you plan on purchasing a diamond for yourself or as a special gift for a loved one, understanding the 4Cs is crucial.

In the following article, we’ll be focusing on the 4Cs of buying a diamond, including:

  • The History of the 4Cs
    •
  • What Are the 4Cs
    •
  • What Are Fancy Diamonds?
    •

    At deBoulle Diamond & Jewelry, we stock a wide selection of beautiful diamond jewelry and timepieces, perfect as a gift, for a special occasion, or just to let someone know how much you care and appreciate them.


    The History of the 4Cs

    The term 4Cs began life in the 1940s and was the brainchild of Robert M. Shipley, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) founder.

    Shipley originally started using the 4Cs as an easy way for his students to remember the four main characteristics that define a faceted diamond. The concept was straightforward yet revolutionary at the time.

    Until then, diamond merchants and jewelers used various broad terms to talk about the factors influencing a diamond’s value. Terms such as water or river were used to describe how colorless a diamond was, and Cape was assigned to the pale yellow diamonds mined in South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope area.

    To describe the clarity of a diamond, you would hear terms such as ‘with imperfections’ or ‘without flaws.’ And the cut of a diamond was often described as either ‘made poorly’ or ‘made well.’ The term carat has been used to describe the weight of gemstones consistently since the 1500s. You can start to see why Shipley’s 4Cs were so quickly adopted by international jewelers for their ease and simplicity.


    What Are the 4Cs?

    In this section, we’ll be taking a closer look at the 4Cs: Carat, Cut, Clarity, and Color. The diamond industry uses the 4Cs to grade a diamond, with all gradings done by a qualified expert certified in diamond authentication.

    Not only will understanding the 4Cs allow you to make smarter purchasing decisions when buying a diamond, but it will also allow you to make tradeoffs. For example, you may prefer a bigger diamond, trading off clarity or flaws in the gemstone. Or you may like a smaller diamond that’s flawless. Talking to your jeweler about your diamond preferences at the time of purchase will help you find the perfect diamond.

    The 4Cs of Diamonds | Cut

    The quality of a diamond’s cut is potentially the most important of the 4Cs. It’s the cut of the diamond that most often determines its beauty and allure. The quality of a diamond’s cut is measured by the balance of all its measurements, which combined produce the most light possible through the top of the stone. If the cut is too shallow, light is lost through the bottom, and if it is too deep, light escapes through the sides of the stone.

    The cut of a diamond can affect how big or small it looks, its color, and the way it sparkles when worn.

    The 4Cs of Diamonds | Clarity

    Almost all diamonds, except the very finest, will contain tiny imperfections, and clarity is the measurement used to define how perfect a diamond is. Almost all imperfections present in diamonds are only visible at a microscopic level. However, too many slight imperfections can affect a diamond’s color rating and how light escapes from the diamond.

    The clarity rating of a diamond is the easiest to visually see and understand, and jewelers often describe the imperfections in a diamond as clarity characteristics, blemishes, or inclusions.

    The 4Cs of Diamonds | Carat

    Diamond Carat Weight refers specifically to the weight of a diamond. A metric carat is equal to 200mg. You may also hear the carat weight of a diamond referred to as ‘points,’ and one carat equals 100 points.

    While the carat weight of a diamond is an accurate measurement of its weight, it doesn’t always translate to how big or small it looks to the eyes. This is because when you view a diamond, you look down at it from above. The diamond’s cut and measurement across the top, along with its sparkle, all affect how big it looks.

    The 4Cs of Diamonds | Color

    Rather than measuring how colorful a diamond is, its color grade measures its lack of color. This is because the most desirable diamonds are diamonds considered most white. The color scale of diamonds starts at D and ends at Z, with D being the best possible rating and Z being the lowest possible rating.

    When you see a diamond with color, it will generally appear as light brown or pale yellow. While the highest-rated diamonds are considered colorless, a diamond with a little color can add warmth to the stone, giving it more sparkle and making it appear more attractive.


    What Are Fancy Diamonds?

    Did you know diamonds come in other colors, including reds, blues, pinks, and greens? These diamonds are known as Fancy Diamonds and are considered the scarcest of all stones. Stones with a yellow color intensity past Z are also regarded as fancy diamonds.

    Only 1 out of every 10,000 diamonds has a noticeable color, and considering how rare diamonds are, the chances of discovering a fancy diamond are even lower. Fancy diamonds are a miracle of Mother Nature and are highly sought after.


    The 4 Cs of Buying A Diamond – Conclusion

    While the 4Cs are an essential and accurate way to grade a diamond, they don’t always accurately express the true beauty of the diamond. An experienced jeweler understands the importance of visual beauty and can work with a diamond, regardless of its grading report, to create a masterpiece.

    Another influence on the popularity of different diamonds isn’t their grade. It’s who’s wearing them. When royals, stars, and celebrities wear a specific diamond, it can cause a spike in the popularity and price of a specific color diamond. A diamond considered fashionable at one time may decrease in price as trends and tastes change.

    At deBoulle Diamond & Jewelry, we stock a wide selection of beautiful jewelry and timepieces, perfect as a gift or a special occasion. We also specialize in custom engagement rings, and the deBoulle Engagement Collection is an exquisite collection of our best diamond engagement rings.

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