What are the Four Diamond 'C's and why are they important?

The quality of a diamond has long been determined by the 4 Cs: cut, colour, clarity, and carat. We know that the higher the rating of each ‘C’, the better quality you can expect. However, few know how to use the information to make the right purchase. Keep reading to find out how to use the 4 Cs to select the right diamond for your taste and budget.

Cut

A diamond can be cut to be heavier (so that is has a more lucrative weight) or it might be cut lighter to disguise minor flaws. Ask your jeweller if they can tell you about the brightness of the diamond, how light scatters through it, the amount of shine it generates and what its overall rating is (ranging from excellent to poor). If you’re looking for a sparkling and eye-catching diamond, prioritise this rating.

Colour

Traditionally, white or colourless diamonds are graded higher than opaque ones. This rating is often given to the amount of colour detected, which might not be visible to the naked eye. Naturally coloured diamonds are rare and expensive. Potentially, you could opt for a colour treatment to get a better look for less.

Clarity

This ‘C’ measures a diamond’s natural flaws. It can be cut and polished to make blemishes less visible, but they can never be completely eliminated. When graded, diamonds are evaluated for internal and external flaws, some of which cannot be detected without special equipment. Besides, nobody will even know about these flaws unless you mention them, or if they closely examine the diamond itself.

Carat

This is the most famous element of diamond evaluation. What many people don’t know is that the difference between weights can often be invisible to the naked eye, but still have a massive price difference. If you have a carat size in mind, you might be able to get one that looks identical in size at a lower carat (and cost).

Now that you understand what each element of the 4 C’s means in terms of your diamond selection, you’ll be in a better position to purchase the perfect diamond by your standards. To see a wide range of diamonds with varying levels of these C’s, be sure to visit the Bevilles diamond collection.