Every diamond is graded on four qualities — cut, color, clarity, and carat. Together, the 4Cs determine how a diamond looks and what it costs.
Cut
How well the diamond is shaped and faceted. Cut controls sparkle more than any other factor; a well-cut diamond reflects light back to your eye instead of leaking it out the sides. Cut is the one C we never recommend compromising on — it is what makes a diamond come alive.
Color
Graded from D (colorless) to Z (noticeably warm). Most buyers find the best value in the near-colorless range (G–J), which faces up white once set in a ring or stud.
Clarity
How free the diamond is of internal inclusions and surface marks, graded from Flawless to Included. Many inclusions are invisible to the naked eye, so a lower clarity grade can look identical to a higher one in person — what graders call "eye-clean."
Carat
The diamond's weight. Size increases with carat, but so does price — and a well-cut smaller diamond often looks bigger than a poorly cut heavier one. Note that carat is weight, not diameter: two diamonds of the same carat can face up differently depending on how they're cut.
Putting It Together
Our advice: prioritize cut first, then choose the color and clarity that still look clean to your eye, and spend what's left on carat. That order gets you the brightest diamond for your budget.
Questions? Call us at (954) 441-3700 or visit Kings Jewelers at Pembroke Lakes Mall, Center Court, 11401 Pines Blvd K-921, Pembroke Pines, FL 33026.