The 4 C's are the basic criteria
used to judge the beauty and price/value of a diamond. Most often,
diamond shoppers look to color and clarity as the two most important
factors when choosing a diamond, however the cut of the diamond
will influence fire and brilliance much more than the other two
C's.
Cut
The way a diamond is cut, that is, the amount and location of
the rough diamond that is removed in the cutting process has the
most direct effect on how the diamond will look.
Color
Graded on a letter scale from D to Z (D being the best), color
describes the overall tint of the diamond, from white to yellow.
Clarity
Graded on a scale from FL (Flawless) to I3 (Many Visible Inclusions),
clarity describes the amount and location of "inclusions"
in the diamond.
Carat
Weight
Commonly confused with size, carat refers to the weight of the
diamond when measured on a scale. A diamond that weighs more is
not necessarily bigger than a diamond that weighs less.
