Diamond Quality 101
Diamonds, cut, carat weight, quality, clarity, color…there’s so much terminology that can be very confusing. We’re here to make sure that you find the best quality stones to make your ring last.
The 4 C’s of Diamonds
Many people hear about “the 4 C’s” but aren’t sure exactly what it means. When purchasing a diamond, it is important to consider the cut, color, clarity, and carat weight.
Cut
Most people just think of “cut” as the shape of a stone. However, cut and shape are different. The cut is based off of how a diamond interacts with light. This takes into account the depth of a diamond, and proportions of the stone. We typically aim for 60% table and 60% depth. What do table and depth mean? Table is the largest surface on the diamond. The total depth is the measurement from the table to the cutlet (the tip) of the diamond.
Color
With a diamond, the lack of color is considered a higher quality diamond. For example, an “N colored” diamond appears yellow to the naked eye while a “D colored” diamond is colorless. We recommend staying above I color if it is GIA certified, and above H color if not. Anything lower than that, the diamond will likely appear yellow.
Image from: https://4cs.gia.edu/en-us/diamond-color/
Clarity
Clarity is graded by inclusions or blemishes in the diamond. Inclusions are on the inside of the stone and blemishes are on the outside. A higher clarity grade means there are less imperfections in the stone. There are 11 different clarity grades. Some of the most common are SI1 and SI2 where "SI" stands for "slightly included." We recommend anything above SI1 or SI2 as any imperfections are very difficult to see if not impossible to see with the naked eye.
Image from: https://4cs.gia.edu/en-us/diamond-clarity/
Carat Weight
Carats are a measurement of how much a diamond weighs. A "carat" is a unit of weight often abbreviated as "ct."One carat is equal to 200 milligrams. Typically, the larger the carat weight, the more expensive the diamond if the cut, color, and clarity are the same. We recommend choosing a carat weight based on the size of the stone you are looking for and how much you want to spend.
Image from: https://4cs.gia.edu/en-us/diamond-carat-weight/
Want to learn more?
Give us a call at (310) 977-1968 to schedule and appointment. We also suggest checking out the GIA website with information about the 4C’s at 4cs.gia.edu.
