Are You Seeking A Different Diamond Look? Learn About The 4 C's

by Bounnie Miller Content Writter

Are you seeking a different diamond bridal set? Four characteristics often characterize diamonds: cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. You should learn about these four features to make an informed selection regarding bridal set purchasing.

Cut

The cut determines a diamond's look, feel, and value. A diamond is "the shape and symmetry of its facets."

The five main categories are Round Brilliant Cut Diamond, Princess-Cut Diamond, Emerald-Cut Diamond; Radiant Cut Diamond; Cushion Cut Diamond.

A poorly cut diamond is dull and lifeless. In contrast, a diamond with high-quality facets and angles interacts with light efficiently to produce: Brightness (the reflection of white light), Scintillation, or Sparkles (caused by light and dark patterns within the gem).

Color

The color of your diamond is the most critical factor in determining its value. Diamonds are expensive and beautiful. A diamond that is pure and structurally flawless is entirely transparent, with no hue or color. However, nearly no gem-sized natural diamonds are entirely flawless. Chemical impurities and structural flaws in the crystal lattice can change the hue of a diamond. A diamond's color may either detract or increase its value depending on the hue and intensity of its color.

Clarity

To understand diamond clarity, we must first comprehend diamond formation. Natural diamonds result from carbon exposed to extreme heat and pressure deep inside the earth. This process can also produce a range of interior traits known as 'inclusions,' as well as outward characteristics known as 'blemishes.'

The clarity grading for diamonds ranges from I (included) to FL (flawless). Subgrades inside each clarity grade give extra information regarding the visibility of inclusions in the diamond.

Carat

A carat is a weight unit used to determine the size of a gemstone, such as a diamond. A carat is a mass unit equal to 200 mg or 0.00643 troy oz used to weigh gemstones and pearls.

Ending Note

Know the 4 C's for buying the best when looking for a diamond. The first three C's are cut, color and clarity, while carat is most important in size and price. This can make it challenging to choose which diamond will be right for you!

Now that you know the four C's used to rate diamond quality, you can better decide when shopping for your future spouse's diamond set. Hopefully, this article saved you from making a costly mistake many of us make when purchasing a diamond bridal set.