With a wealth of information available about diamonds, it can be tricky to know what's important when choosing one for your engagement ring. Looking for an easier way? Here's what you really need to know about the 4 C's of diamond quality.
Cut
By far the most important 'C', Cut describes how well the facets of a diamond reflect incoming light to sparkle. A well cut diamond will make a huge difference to your engagement ring. When you catch a glimpse of sparkle from a beautiful diamond across the room, chances are it has a great Cut. Look for 'Excellent' in all Cut properties of your rock.
Colour
Second most important, Colour describes how white your diamond is. A great Colour will help your diamond look bright, white and clear even when day-to-day grime gets into your piece. Look for colours D (the best there is), E, or F.
Clarity
While Clarity is one of the most well-known properties, it's also one of the least visible aspects of your diamond. For diamond shapes that have lots of facets, like round brilliant cuts and princess cuts, VS1 through to SI2 are great value. For diamond shapes with fewer facets, like emerald cuts and ascher cuts, aim to go higher in the scale to avoid visible flaws.
However do keep in mind that a diamond's clarity rating isn't the full story. Look for a diamond that has also been deemed 'eye clean' by a jeweller (that is, the flaws can't be seen by the naked eye), to ensure you're getting a great gem.
Carat
Finally, Carat describes how big the diamond is. The classic old story applies here: quality over quantity. Look for a size that you can comfortably afford, ensuring it has a good Cut, Colour and Clarity.
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