4Cs of Diamonds & Diamond Buying Guide

The 4Cs Of Diamonds

Are you in search of a dazzling diamond? Understanding the unique characteristics of each stone is the key to finding the perfect one. Diamonds are graded based on the 4Cs - cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. Each of the diamond 4Cs plays a crucial role in determining the stone's beauty and value.

Cut

Diamond cut refers to the proportions, symmetry, and finish of a diamond, and it's considered the most important of the 4Cs. A well-cut diamond will reflect light beautifully and have maximum sparkle and brilliance, making it appear larger and more valuable. When shopping for a diamond, prioritize cut quality to ensure the stone's overall beauty and value.

Learn More About Cut

Colour

Diamond color refers to the degree of colorlessness in a diamond, with a higher degree indicating a higher grade and value. It's the second most important of the 4Cs, as it impacts the stone's appearance and value. Diamonds are graded on a scale from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown), and a higher color grade can make a diamond appear brighter and more valuable.

Learn More About Colour

Clarity

Diamond clarity refers to the presence of small imperfections, called inclusions, within a diamond. Inclusions can affect the stone's appearance and value. A higher clarity grade indicates fewer and less visible inclusions. When shopping for a diamond, consider its clarity grade as it impacts the stone's beauty and value. A higher clarity grade makes a diamond appear more brilliant, while a lower grade may have visible inclusions that affect its appearance and value.

Learn More About Clarity

Carat Weight

Diamond carat weight measures the weight of a diamond and is the most popular indicator of its size. A larger carat weight often means a rarer and more valuable diamond. Consider the carat weight when shopping for a diamond, as it can significantly impact the stone's price.

Learn More About Carat

Diamond Quality: Understanding the 4Cs

We offer a vast collection of the world's finest cut diamonds pre-selected for exceptional quality based on the 4Cs: cut, color, clarity, and carat weight.

The 4Cs of diamonds interact with each other to impact a stone's appearance. For example, a diamond with an ideal cut may appear less brilliant if it has a lower color grade. Similarly, a well-cut diamond can appear larger than a stone of the same carat weight due to increased light reflection.

Choose a diamond that balances the 4Cs to suit your personal preferences and budget. Our collection of exceptional quality diamonds ensures that you'll find the perfect diamond for your needs.

How to Choose a Unique Diamond: Explore Fancy Shapes and the 4Cs

Beyond the classic round brilliant diamond, there are many other shapes to consider. At our store, we offer ten different fancy-shaped diamonds, each with its own unique personality. These fancy-cut diamonds are still evaluated using the industry-standard 4Cs: cut, color, clarity, and carat weight.

Fancy cuts may behave differently than round diamonds when it comes to the 4Cs. Clarity and carat weight can be more forgiving, as larger tables can make these diamonds appear larger, maximizing a lower carat weight. Inclusions that may be a concern for round diamonds can be disguised or removed altogether in specialized cuts. Additionally, fancy-shaped diamonds have their own unique clarity characteristics, with different shapes adding their own faceting to the mix.

Explore the world of fancy-shaped diamonds and find the perfect one to match your personality and style. Let us help you select a truly unique diamond.

Colourful Diamonds: Discover the Beauty of Natural Hues

While diamond colour is typically evaluated in terms of how colourless a stone is, there are some diamonds where colourful hues are not only intentional but also highly coveted. Coloured diamonds come in a range of hues, including yellow, pink, green, blue, and even brown. When it comes to fancy colour diamonds, colour isn't about how colourless the diamond is, but rather about the stone’s hue, intensity, overtones, and saturation. When shopping for coloured diamonds, the Cs of cut, clarity, and carat weight are still important considerations.

Coloured diamonds offer a unique way to express your personal style and taste. These natural beauties are prized for their individuality and rarity, and can add a touch of glamour and sophistication to any jewellery collection.

How to Buy a Diamond: Tips from Circle of Diamond

When it comes to buying a diamond, the process can be overwhelming with so many options available. But it doesn't have to be a guessing game. By learning about the 4Cs, diamond quality, and how they influence price, you can make your buying journey a simple one.Here are the core steps to buying a diamond:

Here are the core steps to buying a diamond:

Step One: Understand the 4Cs

The 4Cs of diamonds are cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. Learning about these factors will help you understand which qualities are most important when browsing stones.

Step Two: Set Your Budget

Setting a budget is an important step in the buying process. It will help you find the right diamond with the perfect combination of cut, color, clarity, and carat weight for your specific needs.

Step Three: Decide Which 4Cs are Most Important

Deciding which of the 4Cs is most important to you is crucial. For example, if you want a diamond with the best cut within your budget, you might opt for a smaller carat weight stone with a higher clarity rating. Or, if carat size is your top priority, you may choose a stone with a lower clarity rating to maximize the carat weight.

Step Four: Choose a Trustworthy Jeweler

At Circle of Diamond, we are committed to providing the best diamond shopping experience to our customers. Our diamonds are certified by GIA grading reports, which provide added confidence in your purchase.

Step Five: Find Your Perfect Diamond

Once you've learned about the 4Cs, set your budget, prioritized your diamond features, and found a trustworthy jeweler, it's time to pick the perfect diamond. At Circle of Diamond, we offer a wide selection of diamonds to fit engagement rings, earrings, and any other jewelry need. Explore our impressive selection to find the perfect stone to add to a setting or purchase all on its own.

Diamond Buying Guide FAQs

What is the best grade of diamond?
Our Astor diamonds represent the highest-graded stones available. These diamonds boast unparalleled brilliance and radiance.

What is the difference between a natural and a lab-grown diamond?

A natural diamond is formed in the earth's mantle over millions of years, while a lab-grown diamond is created in a laboratory under controlled conditions that simulate the natural diamond-growing process. The main difference between the two is their origin, but both types of diamonds have the same physical and chemical properties.

Which of the 4Cs of diamonds is most important?

Cut is the most important characteristic of the 4Cs. Cut is responsible for the diamond’s brilliance. A symmetrical, proportionate diamond cut will bring the most sparkle.

Which of the diamond 4Cs is least important?

Clarity is believed to be the least important of the four Cs. This is because many imperfections are difficult to see with the naked eye.

How do the 4Cs impact a diamond’s price?

The higher quality a diamond is, the more expensive it will be. Each stone is unique, and many less-than-perfect grades in some of the 4Cs are difficult to see with the naked eye. For example, stones with a lower clarity score may still look eye-clean. Because of the uniqueness of diamonds, it’s possible to choose a stone with lower scoring elements of the 4Cs and still enjoy a breathtakingly beautiful diamond.