The 4Cs describe four characteristics of a diamond: cut, colour, clarity and carat weight. They are most useful when considered together.
Cut
Cut describes the quality of a diamond’s proportions, symmetry and polish. Shape refers to its outline, such as round, oval or pear; it is not the same as cut quality.
Colour
Diamonds in the normal colour range, from colourless to light yellow or brown, may be described using GIA’s D–Z scale. Coloured diamonds are assessed separately, so review the wording on the individual report.
Clarity
Clarity concerns a stone’s internal characteristics and surface features. How a grade appears in everyday wear depends on the characteristics and their position and size within the individual stone.
Carat weight
Carat is a unit of gemstone weight; it should not be confused with the karat used to describe gold. Weight alone does not tell you a diamond’s visible size, so consider its measurements and shape too.
Finding your balance
Look at the stone as a whole: your personal style, preferred shape and budget matter too. Ask us for the details of a piece and any independent report available for its stone.
Sources
Explore the independent sources used in this guide.