Understanding the 4 C's of Diamonds
Your Guide to Choosing the Perfect Diamond
At Marisa Zach Diamond Designs, we believe every diamond tells a story—and understanding the 4 C’s is the first step to telling yours. Whether you're building a custom engagement ring, browsing loose lab-grown stones, or selecting a ready-to-ship piece, knowing the 4 C’s will empower you to make a confident and informed choice.
What Are the 4 C’s?
The 4 C’s refer to the Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat weight of a diamond. Developed by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), this globally recognized system is the standard for evaluating a diamond’s quality and value.
Cut
Cut is arguably the most important of the 4 C’s. It doesn’t refer to the shape (like round or oval), but rather how well a diamond’s facets interact with light.
A well-cut diamond will reflect light beautifully, creating that unmistakable sparkle and brilliance. Even a high-carat diamond with poor cut can look dull.
Grades: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor
Pro Tip: Always prioritize cut when shopping for maximum brilliance.
→ Build Your Custom Ring and choose a setting that complements your ideal cut.
Color
Diamond color is graded on a scale from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown). The less color a diamond has, the higher its grade (and value). However, some people prefer a warmer tone or even fancy colors like champagne or pink.
Grades:
- D-F: Colorless
- G-J: Near Colorless
- K-M: Faint Color
- N-Z: Noticeable Color
Pro Tip: Near-colorless diamonds (G-H) offer great value without compromising appearance.
→ Browse Loose Lab-Grown Diamonds with beautiful, high-color grades at more accessible prices.
Clarity
Clarity measures the presence of internal inclusions or external blemishes. Most are microscopic and don’t affect the look of the diamond to the naked eye.
Grades:
- FL/IF: Flawless / Internally Flawless
- VVS1-VVS2: Very, Very Slight Inclusions
- VS1-VS2: Very Slight Inclusions
- SI1-SI2: Slight Inclusions
- I1-I3: Included (visible flaws)
Pro Tip: A VS2 or SI1 diamond often looks identical to a flawless one—but at a much better price.
→ Explore our Shop-in-Stock Collection for hand-selected stones with exceptional clarity.
Carat Weight
Carat weight refers to the size of the diamond. While it’s often associated with “bigger is better,” two diamonds of the same carat can look very different depending on their cut and shape.
Pro Tip: A well-cut 0.90ct diamond can look as large as a 1ct, often for significantly less.
→ Use our Custom Ring Builder to find the perfect balance of size, style, and sparkle.
Ready to Begin?
Now that you understand the 4 C’s, you’re ready to find a diamond that reflects your style and story. At Marisa Zach Diamond Designs, we offer only ethically sourced, lab-grown, and hand-selected stones to ensure exceptional beauty and value.
💍 Start Building Your Custom Ring
Craft a ring as unique as your love, from setting to stone.
💎 Browse Loose Lab-Grown Diamonds
Select your dream diamond, then choose how it’s set.
🚚 Shop Ready-to-Ship Designs
Need something sooner? Explore our in-stock collection of timeless pieces.