Diamonds are graded and characterized by four main characteristics, which were originally created by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). These four characteristics are color, clarity, cut, and carat weight, the 4Cs. Use this guide to learn about the 4Cs and familiarize yourself with the essential diamond characteristics that will make your diamond selection a more informed and streamlined process.
Learn About the 4Cs
What the 4C’s are for Lab Grown Diamonds
he GIA International Diamond Grading System was developed to standardize how diamonds are graded across the world, ensuring that buyers everywhere can make informed decisions based on a universal set of criteria. This system, which revolves around the 4Cs of diamond grading—cut, color, clarity, and carat weight—is detailed on the GIA diamond grading chart. Significantly, this grading system has been embraced by leading gemological institutes and bodies globally, including the International Gemological Institute (IGI). Notably, IGI set a precedent as the first major diamond grading laboratory to extend the 4Cs grading to Lab Grown Diamonds.
This adoption underscores the equivalency in validity, reliability, and trustworthiness between certificates issued by GIA and those by IGI. For our clients, it's important to understand that most of our diamonds come with IGI certificates, ensuring that they meet the same high standards set by the globally recognized GIA system.
When buying loose diamonds or jewelry, like diamond engagement rings, they often come with a grading report from GIA or IGI providing details of the 4Cs, which can be used for appraisal and insurance purposes. Since lab grown diamonds are real diamonds, they are graded exactly as per the GIA natural diamond grading system, with the same exact parameters used for mined diamonds.
Lab created diamonds are physically, optically, and chemically identical to mined diamonds when compared side by side. This means that quality lab grown diamonds are also officially graded using the 4Cs by independent gemological organizations. The 4Cs of lab grown diamonds will vary, just like in natural diamonds, and they can range in grade from poor to excellent.
Diamond Cut
A diamond’s cut doesn’t just refer to its shape; it determines how well the diamond captures and refracts light, which produces its inimitable sparkle. Well-cut diamonds are extremely brilliant, fiery, and desirable. Poor-cut diamonds, on the other hand, can appear dull and dark even if they have a high grade of color or clarity.
The intense radiance of well-cut diamonds also gives them the illusion of appearing larger than other diamonds of the same carat weight. Ideal diamonds have elevated levels of brilliance and diameter compared to diamonds with deeper cuts.
Cut is often considered the most important characteristic of the 4C’s. This is because it has the biggest impact on the diamond’s overall appearance and quality. Jewelers recommend paying attention to the cut of a diamond above all else.
Types Of Diamond Cuts
The diamond’s proportions and symmetry define the quality of the cut. A high-quality cut can only be created by a highly skilled craftsman. Diamonds are graded according to a scale from Ideal to Poor. Even the untrained eye will notice that diamonds with higher cut grades are more sparkly than those with lower cut grades.
- Ideal Cut diamonds have outstanding sparkle and flawless symmetry. They are cut to perfect proportions for refracting light.
- Excellent Cut diamonds have exceptional sparkle and even patterns.
- Very Good Cut diamonds have great sparkle and polish. They are considered symmetrical.
- Good Cut diamonds have a fine sparkle. They have a reasonable level of polish and symmetry.
- Fair Cut diamonds have a low level of sparkle and polish. They are not always symmetrical.
- Poor Cut diamonds appear dim and asymmetrical, with uneven spots on their surface.
Round & Fancy Shape Diamond Cuts
Only round brilliant diamonds can have an Ideal Cut. The alignments of their facets make it easy to cut perfect proportions for optimal sparkle and symmetry.
Fancy shaped diamonds such as oval, pear, and emerald have different facet alignments, which makes it difficult to attain Ideal Cut level. However, this does not mean that fancy shaped diamonds are poor quality. They can still attain Excellent grades and offer exceptional brilliance and fire.
Brides who desire unique shapes shouldn’t feel like they’re sacrificing quality or beauty when choosing a fancy shaped diamond. Seek out diamonds with Excellent polish and symmetry grades to ensure you’re getting a high-quality stone that highlights your individuality.
Grading Fancy Shape Diamonds
Fancy shaped diamonds have the same grades as round diamonds, but gemologists use a different approach when evaluating them. Round diamonds are graded using precise measurements, while fancy shaped diamonds use a more subjective approach that measures the stone’s appearance and cut execution.
Pranessa, Dispersion, Fire & Scintillation
Any well-cut diamond will have four key characteristics: brilliance, dispersion, fire, and scintillation.
- Pranessa in a diamond refers to its capacity to reflect and refract light, resulting in a sparkling appearance. This optical phenomenon is achieved through precise cutting, which enhances internal reflection and disperses light into colorful flashes.
- Dispersion occurs when light rays separate into flashes of color after hitting the surface of the diamond.
- Fire is the result of dispersion. White light separates into the spectral colors of the rainbow, creating a fiery appearance on the diamond’s surface.
- Scintillation are the flashes of color that are visible whenever the diamond is in motion. It is the play between the fire and whiteness inside the facets of the diamond.
All four elements come together in a well-cut diamond, no matter its shape, to create a magnificent and beautiful sparkle.
Ideal Cuts
A perfectly cut stone is referred to as an Ideal Cut diamond. These diamonds are cut in a way that reflects back virtually all of the light that enters them.
To produce an Ideal Cut diamond, meticulous attention to detail is required in the cutting process. In an Ideal Cut diamond, the depth and table percentages, crown and pavilion angles, and the girdle thickness are all carefully calibrated.
This results in a diamond that exhibits a superior balance of brilliance, fire, and scintillation, which acts as a prism whenever it interacts with light. This depth of sparkle can make the stone appear larger than it actually is.
Many Ideal Cut diamonds have an appearance that resembles the shapes of hearts and arrows. The hearts are visible from the bottom, while arrows are visible from the sides. These stones are also referred to as Hearts and Arrows diamonds, a playfully romantic nod to Cupid.
The Diamond Color Scale
A colorless diamond is almost pure white, while lower grades have a yellowish tint. The trace element of nitrogen causes this. Completely colorless diamonds are considered to be chemically pure and structurally perfect; imperfections and impurities are what cause color variations within diamonds.
Color differences are challenging to determine for an untrained eye. Generally, you won’t be able to see a difference unless the diamonds are two color grades apart, and even then, it will depend on the position of the diamond. If a diamond is face up, which it likely will be, the naked eye won’t see any color. You may see traces of color from the diamond’s side profile, which the ring mount will partially hide.
- Colorless diamonds are grades D-F. These are the rarest and most valuable diamonds of all. They show almost no color. F grade diamonds will have a tiny trace of color, but it will only be visible to gemologists if viewed face down.
- Near colorless diamonds are grades G-J. Diamonds in this range appear colorless when viewed face up but will display trace amounts of colors if viewed face down against a white background. The color will not be visible to an untrained eye once mounted. Near colorless diamonds provide excellent value for money.
- Faint color diamonds are grades K-M. This category features diamonds that might show a trace of color in the face up position. It’s an excellent option for those who enjoy color and want to extend their budgets.
Diamonds in the very light or light categories will often have a yellow hue. Sometimes they may have a brownish hue. These are known as champagne or cognac diamonds, depending on the intensity of the shade. While yellow is caused by nitrogen, brown is thought to be caused by internal graining. The earthy color is a result of structural irregularities combined with impurities like nitrogen.
Diamond Carats
Carat is the unit of measurement for the physical weight of diamonds and is one of the most objective measurements of the Four Cs for determining the value of a diamond. One carat is equal to 200 milligrams or 1/5 of a gram. Once the weight in milligrams is determined, the diamond is subdivided into 100 points. This ensures an ultra-precise measurement to the hundredth decimal place. Typical diamond weights range from 0.25 carats to 5 carats.
Carats are one of the most objective measurements of the 4Cs for determining the value of a diamond. It directly corresponds to the weight of a diamond, while other Cs are more subjective. The carat weight of a diamond determines how big it is. Up to 2/3 of the total carat weight may be lost when raw diamonds are cut and polished into finished diamonds.
The name "carat" derives from carob, the popular chocolate substitute. Carob seeds were the standard measurement tool for diamonds up until the 20th century. Their small size and consistent shape made them an effective counterweight for diamonds.
-
Round
-
Oval
-
Emerald
-
Cushion
FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
No, lab grown diamonds do not fade over time. They maintain their brilliance and color permanently, just like natural diamonds. Lab grown diamonds are chemically and physically identical to natural diamonds, so they have the same durability and longevity.
Advantages: More affordable, environmentally friendly, guaranteed conflict-free, identical quality to natural diamonds.
Disadvantages: Lower resale value, some traditional jewelers may not carry them, perceived as less prestigious by some buyers.
Yes, lab grown diamonds test as real diamonds because they are real diamonds. They have the same chemical composition, crystal structure, and physical properties as natural diamonds. Standard diamond testers cannot distinguish between lab grown and natural diamonds.
Competitive Pricing
Free Shipping
Free Returns
Lifetime Warranty