Buying an engagement ring for the first time can feel overwhelming. You’ve likely heard the term “The 4Cs of diamond grading,” but what do they actually mean? This guide is here to demystify the process and give you the knowledge you need to choose your diamond with confidence.
The 4Cs are a universal language used by experts to grade diamonds, whether they are natural or lab grown diamonds. They stand for Cut, Colour, Clarity, and Carat. Understanding these four key characteristics is the first step towards finding a diamond with the quality and sparkle you desire.
Cut: The Key to Sparkle
Many people confuse a diamond's cut with its shape (like round or princess). The diamond cut is actually a grade of how well the diamond has been cut and polished. It’s the most important of the 4Cs because it dictates how a diamond reflects and refracts light—in other words, its sparkle and brilliance. A well-cut diamond will have perfect proportions, allowing light to enter and bounce out of the stone with maximum brilliance.
The scale ranges from Ideal/Excellent to Poor, but at The Cornish Diamond Co., we only select diamonds with an Ideal to Excellent cut to ensure a truly remarkable sparkle.
Colour: The Absence of Colour
When we talk about a diamond’s colour, we’re actually looking for the absence of it. The industry’s scale goes from D to Z, with D being completely colourless and Z having a visible yellow or brown tint. Colourless diamonds are the rarest and most valuable.
At The Cornish Diamond Co., we make your choice simple. We only work with the highest grades of colour, selecting D-F colour diamonds. This means every stone in our collection is either completely colourless or near-colourless, giving you a beautiful, brilliant white sparkle.
Clarity: A Diamond’s Flawless Story
Diamond clarity refers to the presence of tiny imperfections or blemishes, both on the surface and within the stone. These are often referred to as inclusions. A professional jeweller will grade a diamond’s clarity under 10x magnification. The scale ranges from Flawless (FL) to Included (I).
For most customers, the sweet spot for clarity is often a grade that is "eye-clean," meaning no inclusions are visible to the naked eye. We make this choice even easier for you. We only select VVS clarity diamonds, which means they contain very, very slight inclusions that are incredibly difficult to see even under 10x magnification.
Carat: A Measure of Weight
The final C, diamond carat, is often misunderstood. It doesn't refer to a diamond's size, but rather its weight. A carat is a unit of weight equal to 200 milligrams. A larger carat weight doesn’t always mean a bigger or more brilliant diamond, as its appearance is heavily influenced by the cut. For example, a well-cut 1.0ct diamond can appear much larger and more brilliant than a poorly cut 1.1ct diamond.
Beyond the 4Cs: Our Commitment to Sparkle
While the 4Cs of diamond grading are essential, our commitment to quality goes even further. We believe that true beauty lies in the details. That's why, in addition to the 4Cs, we meticulously inspect every diamond based on lesser-known grading elements, such as table & depth percentage and ratio, to guarantee a breathtaking sparkle.
To give you complete confidence in your choice, every one of our lab grown diamonds comes with an IGI certificate. This provides an independent, third-party guarantee of the quality and specifications of your diamond, ensuring it is exactly as we say.
Now that you're armed with the knowledge of the 4Cs, you can begin your search with confidence.
Explore our ethically sourced collection of lab grown diamond engagement rings to find the perfect diamond for your story.
