About Diamonds: The Four C's

The value and appearance of a diamond are determined by four characteristics. These characteristics are commonly referred to as the “Four C’s”. They are...

Each of these characteristics has it’s own grading scale which is described in more detail on the corresponding pages.

It is advisable to gain a basic understanding of the grading systems to assist you in making a wise purchase. Knowledge about these grading systems will allow you to understand things such as:

  • Why a heavier diamond can look smaller than a lighter stone.
  • Why one diamond looks brighter than another.
  • Why two similar looking diamonds can be very different in price.

It must be remembered that these criteria do interact together to affect the value and appearance of a stone. For instance a 1.00ct D colour VVS1 stone which is poorly cut may be (depending on your preferences) less desirable than a .80ct, H colour SI clarity which is well cut.