Diamonds
The 4 Cs of Diamonds, Explained
Every diamond is graded on four things — the '4 Cs'. Understanding them helps you spend where it counts and skip where it doesn't. Of the four, cut matters most for sparkle.
Cut — the one that makes it sparkle
Cut isn't the shape (round, oval, etc.) — it's how well the diamond's facets are proportioned to reflect light. A well-cut diamond bounces light back at you brilliantly; a poorly cut one looks dull even if everything else is perfect. If you prioritise one C, make it this one.
Colour — how white it is
Colour is graded from D (completely colourless) down through the alphabet toward faint yellow. The differences between neighbouring grades are subtle. Grades in the near-colourless range look bright and white to the eye while costing less than the top grades — a smart place to save.
Clarity — its natural marks
Clarity describes tiny internal marks (inclusions). Many are invisible without magnification. A stone graded 'eye-clean' looks flawless to you even if it isn't technically perfect under a loupe — again, a sensible way to get more diamond for your money.
Carat — its weight, not its size
Carat measures weight, not how big a diamond looks. Two stones of the same carat can appear different sizes depending on cut. Prices jump at round numbers (like 1.00ct), so a stone just under a milestone weight can look almost identical for noticeably less.
Putting it together
The 'best' diamond balances all four to your taste and budget — not maximum grades across the board. Every stone in our range comes with an IGI certificate so you can see exactly how it's graded, with nothing hidden.
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