Shopping for a diamond engagement ring can easily be one of the most significant purchases you ever make, so it’s crucial to be well-educated before your AMEX is swiped. Most people find that the 4 C’s - cut, color, clarity and carat weight used to evaluate diamonds - are a good place to start when learning more about diamonds.

1. The 4Cs of
Diamonds
Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat Explained
www.shapirodiamonds.com

2. CUT
• Refers to interior angles
and proportions within
the diamond
• Commonly confused
with shape
• Determines radiance
and beauty

3. Best and rarest diamonds have an ideal cut. These diamonds reflect
nearly all light that enters, creating the largest sparkle.

4. COLOR
• Degree to which the
diamond is
colorless
• Color scale ranges
from D to Z
o D = colorless
o Z = yellow color
present

5. Diamonds with natural color are not graded on the D to Z scale. They
are considered more rare and more valuable than white diamonds.

6. CLARITY
• Measured by how many
inclusions (internal
characteristics) and
flaws the diamond has
• More inclusions lead to
less light reflecting from
within the diamond
• Better clarity means
better quality

7. CLARITY
CLASSIFICATIONS
1. Internally flawless: Reserved for “investment-grade
diamonds”; extremely rare and expensive
2. Very very slightly imperfect: Difficult to see flaws under 10x
magnification; very rare and expensive
3. Very slightly imperfect: Flaws are not visible to the naked
eye; very high quality
4. Slightly imperfect: Flaws are not visible to the naked eye;
very good quality
5. Imperfect: Flaws might be visible to the naked eye;
commercial quality

8. CARAT
• Often confused with size
• Refers to diamond weight
• One metric “carat” is equal to
200 milligrams
o Diamonds below one carat
are usually expressed by
points
• Remember: value of the
diamond is not solely
attributed to carat weight

9. For more educational information on
diamonds, visit shapirodiamonds.com.