Diamond Grading - Diamond Grading Chart

The 4CS - What really matters when choosing a diamond and tips.

Aug 13, 2020

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The 4CS - What really matters when choosing a diamond and tips.

Even though all the 4Cs are important, some can be more important than others. We have asked our most senior gemmologist his opinion and tips for today’s savvy buyers out there. You will enjoy this short guide and we hope it will shed some light on the process of choosing your perfect diamond.
 

 
• CARAT

The most important!
Out of the 4Cs “Carat” takes the first spot for many reasons.

1. The first thing you see is the size of the diamond.
2. The first question asked by all her friends will be “What size is your diamond?”.
3. It makes the biggest difference in price out of all the 4Cs.

Tip 1: Go as big as your budget allows. You will never regret getting a diamond that is too big. But you will regret getting one that is too small.

Tip 2: About 20% of all the diamonds we sell are for couples upgrading their original diamond ring. So, going for a bigger diamond initially, usually means not needing to upgrade in the future.

• COLOUR

This is the second most important because the colour is noticeable to the naked eye. When the budget allows, try to go for G colour and higher.

D-F are very white colourless diamonds. G-J are near colourless. K and below are slightly yellow. The lower the colour, the more yellow it will be and more noticeable.

Tip 1: If you want to save some money or want to get a bigger diamond still within your budget H colour is a great option.

Tip 2: If you happen to choose a ring that is all yellow gold, you can easily go down to an I (India) colour, as the yellow will bring out the white in the diamond, making it look about a G colour because of the contrast.

• CLARITY

The clarity is the third most important in the list. This is because most of the time it cannot be seen by the naked eye.

Tip 1: If you are on a budget the best clarity for a diamond, up to 1.00ct, would be “SI1” or “SI2”. For diamonds above 1.00ct, we recommend a “VS2” or “SI1”. This applies to all shapes, except for an Emerald Cut.

Tip 2. For an Emerald cut, we would recommend an “SI1” or “SI2” for diamonds up to 1.00ct and “VS2” for diamonds above 1.00ct.

• CUT

The “Cut” can be the most controversial out of all the 4Cs. Some will say it is the most important, but this is highly debatable. So why is it taking the last position in this guide?

Our gemmologist has decided to put it in this guide as least important, because to most people the difference in “Cut” will be not visible to the naked eye. The reality is that only a trained person can actually tell the difference in the cut of a diamond. We don’t even think your typical salesperson at a jewellery store can tell the difference.

The “CUT” is usually exaggerated in importance by many and we think it is the least important of the 4Cs.

Tip 1: Stick to “Ideal” and “Excellent” cut if budget allows.

Tip 2: If on a budget, you can go down to “Very Good” but do not go any lower.

By following the above guidelines, you will be certain to have the perfect sized diamond that is white, with no inclusions visible to the naked eye and with an excellent cut, you are sure to have a dazzling lab-grown diamond full of sparkle.