The 4Cs

Choosing a diamond can be an overwhelming process and we are here to help. Selecting the right stone begins with understanding the characteristics of a diamond, aka the 4Cs. The cut, color, carat and clarity determine a diamond’s value, but keep in mind that prioritizing what’s most important in a stone is a personal preference.

Diamond Cut

A diamond’s cut refers to the arrangement of its facets. The cut is considered the most important of the 4Cs because it’s what ensures a diamond’s shine and brilliance. When a diamond’s proportions are cut to exact precisions, light enters and exits the diamond through the same surface. Most diamonds are cut into one of three styles: brilliant (a mix of triangular and kite-shaped facets), step (rectangular facets) or mixed (a combination of both brilliant and step cuts). Each cut is evaluated on the diamond’s “face-up” appearance, and its balance of proportions, durability, polish, and symmetry. All of our sustainably created diamonds are cut to perfect proportions and are graded as either Ideal or Excellent.

Diamond Color

A diamond’s color refers to the absence of color. Diamonds come in a variety of hues, but truly colorless white diamonds are rare and most have a slight hint of yellow. Diamond color matters because it determines the stone’s overall appearance, and even the untrained eye can notice these variations; color is indeed a major indication of a diamond’s value. Diamonds are graded on an alphabet scale ranging from D (colorless) to M (faintly colored), with perfectly clear and colorless diamonds (D-F) being the most expensive and diamonds decreasing in value as they go further down the alphabet. Our sustainably created diamonds are primarily colorless or near colorless ranging from D-J on the color scale.

Diamond Clarity

A diamond’s clarity refers to the visual purity of a diamond. It’s determined by the number of inclusions or imperfections in the diamond, and is difficult to notice without the help of a magnifier. These inclusions occur naturally during the diamond growth process and are what make each diamond unique. The internal spots and lines can affect how light passes through the stone, obstructing the refraction and return of light, and can impact how cloudy a diamond appears. Five factors are considered when assigning a diamond’s clarity grade. The size and number of imperfections, their position within the diamond, how they impact its durability, and the noticeable contrast between the imperfections and the diamond itself. We offer a wide selection of sustainably created diamonds, with high clarity grades of VS1 and above that are without any eye-visible inclusions to deliver maximum brilliance.

Diamond Carat

A diamond’s carat refers to its weight. One diamond carat is equal to 0.2 grams—roughly the weight of a paperclip. The most well-known “C” is significant because its impact is clearly visible to the naked eye, and can look different from shape to shape. When it comes to carat weight, bigger isn’t always better because the way a diamond is cut is what influences its appearance. In fact, a higher carat diamond with a poor cut can appear smaller than a lower carat diamond with a high-quality cut. All of our sustainably created diamonds are cut to maximize beauty at every carat weight.