Choosing a Diamond
Carat, color, clarity and cut decide what a diamond is worth. Learn what each grade actually means, and where paying more genuinely shows in the stone.
Diamonds come in every size and in a range of shapes, colors and internal characteristics, and their value is determined by those characteristics - so what is the world of diamonds? Let's find out.
The quality and price of a diamond are defined by the four Cs: carat, color, clarity and cut. Understanding how each one works, and how they balance against one another, is the key to choosing a stone that looks its best for your budget. Each C is covered in its own guide:
- Diamond weight - Carat
- Diamond color - Color (with the full D-to-Z color chart)
- Diamond clarity - Clarity (with the full clarity scale)
- Diamond cut - Cut
Once you understand the four Cs, the single most useful habit is to compare like with like: look at certified loose diamonds (opens in new tab) of similar weight and grade side by side, and always start from a stone that carries an independent grading report (opens in new tab). Many buyers also find that purchasing closer to the source - directly from a manufacturer or established diamond supplier rather than through several middlemen - makes that comparison easier, with a wider selection and clearer, more transparent pricing.
If the figure you have in mind is a modest one, the four Cs are not all equally worth paying for. Buying a diamond on a small budget sets out which of them you can give ground on without anyone seeing the difference, and the one you should not touch.
Diamond is also the birthstone for April, and the April birthstone guide covers the tradition that goes with it.