The 4Cs Of Diamonds: Clarity, Cut, Carat & Colour

When shopping for a diamond, you’ll often hear about the “4 Cs”, Cut, Colour, Clarity, and Carat. These four key factors form the universal language of diamond quality, helping you evaluate each stone’s beauty and value with confidence.

But what exactly are the 4 Cs, and why do they matter so much? This guide breaks down each component and explains how understanding them can help you select a diamond that truly suits your style and budget.

Why the 4 Cs Matter

The 4 Cs are the foundation of the diamond grading system, developed by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in the 1940s. They offer a consistent, objective way to assess diamonds worldwide.

Each “C” measures a different aspect of a diamond’s characteristics:

• Cut affects the diamond’s sparkle and brilliance

• Colour determines how colourless or tinted the diamond appears

• Clarity reveals the presence of internal or external flaws

• Carat indicates the diamond’s weight and often its size

By understanding these factors, you can balance what matters most to you,  whether that’s brilliance, size, or clarity,  and make a well-informed purchase.

The 4 Cs Explained

Cut
The cut is arguably the most important factor in how your diamond shines. A well-cut diamond reflects light beautifully, creating sparkle and fire that bring the stone to life. Cut grades range from Excellent to Poor, influencing the overall brilliance.

Learn more about how cut impacts your diamond’s beauty in our detailed Cut blog.

Colour
Colour grades measure the presence of any tint in white diamonds, graded from D (completely colourless) to Z (light yellow or brown). Colourless diamonds are rare and more valuable, but subtle colour differences can be difficult to detect once set in jewellery.

Explore the nuances of diamond colour in our Colour blog.

Clarity
Clarity refers to tiny natural imperfections called inclusions and surface blemishes. The fewer the imperfections, the higher the clarity grade, ranging from Flawless (no visible inclusions) to Included (visible flaws). Most inclusions are microscopic and don’t impact beauty to the naked eye.

Discover what clarity means for your diamond in our Clarity Blog.

Carat
Carat weight measures how much a diamond weighs, where one carat equals 200 milligrams. While larger diamonds tend to be more expensive, size alone doesn’t determine value, the other Cs are equally crucial.

Find out more about carat weight and size in our Carat blog.

Balancing the 4 Cs for Your Perfect Diamond

No two diamonds are exactly alike, and the 4 Cs work together to define a diamond’s overall character and value. Depending on your priorities, you might choose to prioritise a high cut grade for maximum sparkle, or a larger carat size with slightly lower colour or clarity grades.

At True Brilliance, we guide you through the 4 Cs to help you find a diamond that balances beauty, quality, and value perfectly.