The 4Cs — Cut, Colour, Clarity, and Carat — are the universal standard for assessing diamond quality. Understanding them will help you make a confident, informed choice when selecting your diamond.
Cut
Cut is the most important factor in a diamond's beauty. It determines how well the diamond interacts with light — its brilliance, fire, and scintillation. A well-cut diamond will appear more luminous and lively than a poorly cut stone of the same size and clarity.
Cut grades range from Excellent to Poor. We recommend prioritising cut quality above all other factors, as it has the greatest impact on how your diamond looks to the naked eye.
Colour
Diamond colour is graded on a scale from D (colourless) to Z (light yellow or brown). The most valuable diamonds are those closest to colourless. However, colour differences between adjacent grades (e.g., E vs F) are virtually invisible to the untrained eye.
For most engagement rings, diamonds in the D to G range will appear colourless when set. Diamonds in the H to J range offer excellent value while still appearing white in most settings.
Clarity
Clarity measures the presence of internal inclusions and surface blemishes. Grades range from FL (Flawless) to I3 (Included). Most inclusions are microscopic and invisible to the naked eye.
We recommend VS1 or VS2clarity as the sweet spot — these diamonds are "eye-clean" (no visible inclusions without magnification) while offering significantly better value than internally flawless grades.
Carat
Carat refers to a diamond's weight, not its size. One carat equals 200 milligrams. While larger diamonds are rarer and more valuable, a well-cut 1.5ct diamond can appear more impressive than a poorly cut 2ct stone.
Consider the diamond's dimensions (length x width) alongside carat weight to understand how large it will appear in your setting. Your diamond specialist can help you find the right balance of size, quality, and budget.
Balancing the 4Cs
No single C is more important than the others in isolation — it's about finding the right balance for your priorities and budget. Our recommendation: prioritise cut quality first, then choose colour and clarity grades that are eye-clean, and select the carat weight that fits your budget.