Diamond Education

Discover the 4Cs

Understanding the 4 C’s will guide you in selecting the ideal diamond for your partner.

A diamond's cut goes beyond its shape; it dictates how effectively it captures and reflects light, resulting in its distinctive sparkle. Well-cut diamonds exhibit exceptional brilliance, fire, and desirability, while poor-cut ones may lack luster, appearing dull despite high color or clarity grades.

The intense brilliance of well-cut diamonds also creates the illusion of larger size compared to diamonds of the same carat weight but deeper cuts. Cut is widely regarded as the paramount characteristic of the 4 C’s, significantly influencing a diamond’s overall appearance and quality. Jewelers advise prioritizing the cut when selecting a diamond.

CARAT

Carat, a unit of measure for diamonds, is frequently misunderstood. Contrary to popular belief, it denotes the weight of the diamond rather than its visual "size." When comparing diamonds, consider the cut, as those cut too deep or shallow may appear larger or smaller than diamonds of similar carat weight with a very good or excellent cut.

While carat weight significantly influences diamond pricing, it's not always the most crucial factor; cut, color, and clarity must also be taken into account. Diamond pricing increases exponentially with carat weight, as higher carat weights are considered rarer, thus commanding higher prices.

Despite this, the carat weight doesn't directly represent the diamond's dimensions, although a generally accepted diamond weight-to-millimeter dimension chart exists. For instance, a 6.5mm diamond is roughly 1 carat. View our mm to carat conversion chart for reference.

CUT

A diamond's cut encompasses its proportioning, symmetry, and polish, emphasizing light interaction rather than its shape. Achieving optimal brilliance requires expert craftsmanship to ensure the diamond reflects and refracts light effectively.

The GIA scale grades Round diamonds from Excellent to Poor, with an excellent cut producing luminous reflections of both white and colored light, while a poor cut may appear dark and lackluster.

At Gleam Green, we exclusively offer diamonds with Very Good or Excellent cuts, ensuring they meet our stringent standards of quality and value.

COLOR

When selecting diamonds, color is a critical consideration. It denotes the presence or absence of color within the diamond's body. A superior diamond exhibits minimal color, appearing colorless and showcasing ample white light. Graded by The Gemological Institute of America on a scale from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown), diamonds with less color are rarer and pricier. Diamonds rated between D-F are deemed "Colorless," while those between H-J are considered "Near Colorless."

We prioritize diamond color in our selection process at Gleam Green, offering diamonds rated I color or higher to maintain exceptional quality in our jewelry.

CLARITY

Clarity in diamonds often involves inclusions that are invisible to the naked eye and can only be observed under magnification. Such diamonds are deemed "Eye-Clean," meaning their inclusions do not detract from the diamond's physical beauty.

At Gleam Green, we provide diamond center stones rated SI2 or above, meeting our stringent "Eye Clean" standard. We typically recommend diamonds ranging from SI1 to VS2 for optimal value, although we are committed to sourcing higher clarity diamonds to fulfill your preferences.