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Understanding the 4C's: What really matters when selecting a diamond

Updated: Jul 1, 2023


It's possible that one or more of the 4Cs is more crucial than the others. We sought the advice of our most seasoned gemologist to find out what the most astute shoppers of the modern era should know. Enjoy this quick guide, and hopefully, it will help you better select the diamond of your dreams.
Lab grown diamonds by Diamond Lab

It's possible that one or more of the 4C's is more crucial than the others. We sought the advice of our most seasoned gemologist to find out what the most astute shoppers of the modern era should know. Enjoy this quick guide, and hopefully, it will help you better select the diamond of your dreams.





• CARAT


The most crucial!


"Carat" is the most important of the four Cs for a variety of reasons.


1. The size of the diamond is the first thing you notice.

2. "What size is your diamond?" will undoubtedly be the first thing her pals inquire about.

3. It has the greatest impact on the price of any of the four Cs.


Tip 1: Spend as much money as your budget allows. You will never be sorry for purchasing an oversize diamond. However, you will be disappointed if you purchase one that is too small.


Tip 2: About 20% of all diamonds we sell are for couples looking to upgrade their existing diamond ring. Choosing a larger diamond at first usually means not having to upgrade later.


• PATTERN


The color is visible to the naked eye, so this is the second most important. When your budget allows, try to go for G or higher colors.


D-F diamonds are extremely white and colorless. G-J are almost colorless. K and lower are a little yellow. The lower the color, the more yellow and noticeable it will be.


Tip 1: If you want to save money or get a larger diamond while staying within your budget, H color is a great option.


Tip 2: If you choose an all-yellow gold ring, you can easily go down to an I (India) color because the yellow will bring out the white in the diamond, making it appear about a G color due to the contrast.


The most crucial! "Carat" is the most important of the four Cs for a variety of reasons.
Carat

Colour od Diamonds
Color

• CLARITY


The third most important factor on the list is clarity. This is because it is often invisible to the naked eye.


Tip 1: If you are on a tight budget, the best clarity for a diamond up to 1.00ct would be "SI1" or "SI2". We recommend a "VS2" or "SI1" for diamonds larger than 1.00ct. Except for an Emerald Cut, this applies to all shapes.


Tip 2. For an Emerald cut, we recommend a "SI1" or "SI2" for diamonds weighing up to 1.00ct and a "VS2" for diamonds weighing more than 1.00ct.


• CUT


The "Cut" is the most contentious of the four Cs. Some will argue that it is the most important, but this is debatable. So, what gives it the last spot in this guide?


Our gemmologist has decided to rank it as the least important in this guide because the difference in "Cut" will be invisible to most people. The truth is that only a trained eye can tell the difference between diamond cuts. We don't think the average jewelry store salesperson can tell the difference.


Many people overestimate the importance of the "CUT," and we believe it is the least important of the four Cs.


Tip 1: If your budget allows, stick to "Ideal" and "Excellent" cuts.


Tip 2: If you're on a tight budget, go down to "Very Good," but don't go any lower.


Following the above guidelines will ensure that you have the perfect sized diamond that is white, with no visible inclusions to the naked eye, and with an excellent cut, resulting in a dazzling lab grown diamond full of sparkle.



Diamond characteristics
Diamond characteristics

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