Buying a Diamond? Get Acquainted With the 4Cs

Diamonds have inspired emotions, mesmerized and seduced people throughout history. The Egyptians traditionally placed a diamond ring on the fourth finger, believing that a 'vein of love' ran straight from the fourth finger to the heart. Among the Greeks, diamonds were considered to be the tears of their gods, while Romans believed that they were fragments of stars that had fallen from the sky. Stories and traditions like these abound, and it is no surprise!

Just as with falling in love, each diamond captivates the individual in a unique way, be it through its sparkle or color. With so many diamonds to choose from, buying the one that's right for you can feel overwhelming.

Therefore, prior to purchasing your ideal diamond and entering this magical journey, it’s crucial to first understand the 4Cs as this can ensure that the diamond you buy is high quality and the best value for your money.

What are the 4 Cs?

Have you heard of the 4 C’s? This is the global standard developed by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) that grades diamonds based on their color, cut, clarity and carat weight. The four following qualities of a diamond are the key components that impact its beauty and structure, and ultimately determine the diamond’s value.

Carat

People often associate the term “carat” with the size of the diamond, when in fact, carat refers to the weight of the diamond, not the size of the stone itself.

This word “carat” is derived from the seed of a carob tree, historically used to weigh stones. Each carat equals 0.2 grams, roughly the weight of a quarter of a raisin. Because larger diamonds are rarer than smaller ones, the diamond’s value tends to rise significantly with carat weight.

When comparing diamond carat sizes, it’s important to take a diamond's cut into consideration. For example, a high-carat diamond with a poor cut grade may appear smaller than a diamond with a smaller carat weight and a better cut.

Color

The general view is that the most beautiful diamond color is white or no color at all.

Diamonds are graded from D (colorless) and continue with the increasing presence of yellow, brown, or grey, all the way down to Z. That said, the color might appear different among diamonds relative to the diamond’s cut, carat weight, and shape.

Keep in mind that certain colored diamonds, like fancy pink or green diamonds, don’t fall into this category, and their color grades are different from traditional “white” diamonds.

Clarity

Clarity refers to the absence of blemishes or inclusions. Grades range from "Flawless" (virtually no imperfections) to "Imperfect" (containing a significant number of inclusions).

The higher the clarity grade, the greater the rarity, and the more expensive the diamond.

Cut

This is perhaps the most crucial aspect of a diamond quality that impacts a diamond’s beauty and should be prioritized over the other C’s.

A diamond’s cut unleashes its light, massively impacting its brilliance and fire. The word “cut” refers not only to the shape of the diamond but more importantly to its proportions and how successfully a diamond interacts with light to create desirable visual effects for maximum sparkle. This involves the quality of the angles, proportions, facets, and finishing details.

The cut scale ranges from “Excellent” to “Poor”.

As a buyer, having a good understanding of the 4 C’s is imperative. You need to find the right balance between the 4cs so that you can avoid overpaying for certain qualities of a diamond while not spending enough on others. For example, if you’re thinking of purchasing a 1 carat diamond yet don’t find the right balance of qualities, you may end up with a cheap yet fairly ugly diamond. The Woodeex support staff, consisting of professional diamond dealers, will be glad to advise you on finding the perfect balance of quality and value and match it to your personal criteria.

At Woodeex, we give you direct access to a wide variety of diamonds directly from its exclusive network of professional diamond experts from the largest diamond exchanges around the world!

We open the door to a secret world usually closed to non-professionals, by giving you direct access to the source rather than having to go through retailers.

We offer the highest quality diamonds at a great value, professional advice at your fingertips, and the best buying experience dedicated to helping you find your perfect diamond.