The 4Cs of diamonds

In the 1940s, the international GIA laboratory created the 4C diamond grading system, thereby setting a global standard in diamond quality assessment that other international laboratories have followed and built upon ever since.

This diamond grading is based on the following four aspects:

• The cut of the diamond – this more than any other aspect indicates the diamond’s brightness and brilliance.
• The clarity of the diamond – since any inclusions and blemishes in a diamond affect its rareness and value.
• The color – the closer a diamond is to colorless (D) on the scale from D to Z, the higher its value.
• The carat weight of the diamond – diamonds are weighed in metric carats and one carat equals 0.2 grams.