Diamond Education
Understanding the 4c's of the diamond world and how much importance each one has on determining the quality of a diamond.
What are the 4C's?
The world of diamond jewellery can be intimidating, especially for first-time buyers and curious clientele. Terms like clarity, cut, and carat can be confusing, especially since most diamonds look the same to an inexperienced eye.
First up, an overview of the 4Cs: Colour, Clarity, Cut, and Carat Weight.
Created by the GIA – an unbiased & internationally renowned authority on diamonds, the 4Cs (Colour, Clarity, Cut and Carat Weight) are a universal method for establishing the quality of any diamond, anywhere in the world.
The 4Cs means two very important things: diamond quality can be communicated in a universal language, and diamond-buying consumers can know exactly what they are about to purchase.
Understanding Diamond Cut
A diamond’s cut is what gives it its sparkle. While many people confuse cut with shape (like round or oval), the cut actually refers to how well the diamond’s facets are crafted to reflect light. A well-cut diamond will shine brightly, show flashes of rainbow colours (called fire), and have a beautiful sparkle pattern (scintillation).
Creating the perfect cut takes expert skill and precision, as it involves balancing proportions, symmetry, and polish. Of all the 4Cs, cut is the most complex to assess, but it has the biggest impact on how stunning a diamond looks.
Diamond Colour Actually Means Lack of Colour.
Diamond colour affects both beauty and value. Most high-quality diamonds are graded on how little colour they have—the closer to colourless, the more valuable they are. Think of it like a drop of pure water: the clearer it is, the better.
GIA grades diamonds from D (completely colourless) to Z (light yellow or brown), using expert comparisons under special lighting. These slight differences in colour can be hard to spot, but they have a big impact on the diamond’s price and overall quality. That’s why getting a GIA-certified opinion is important when choosing the right colour for your diamond.
At our studio, we only use diamonds in the top colour range—D to F (colourless)—for all our engagement rings and fine jewellery. This ensures each piece is bright and pure.
What is the Diamond Clarity?
Diamond clarity is all about how clean a diamond is inside and out. Natural diamonds form under extreme heat and pressure, which often creates tiny marks called inclusions (inside) and blemishes (outside).
Clarity is graded by looking at how many of these marks there are, how big they are, and where they’re located. While no diamond is completely perfect, the fewer the imperfections, the better the clarity and value.
GIA’s Clarity Scale ranges from Flawless (no marks at all under magnification) to Included (visible marks that can affect the diamond’s brilliance). Many of these flaws are too small to see without magnification, but they still play a big role in the diamond’s beauty and price.
We make sure to always use eye-clean VS+ clarity diamonds in our jewellery, meaning they appear clean to the naked eye and sparkle beautifully in every light.
Diamond Carat Weight Measures a Diamond’s Apparent Size
Carat refers to how much a diamond weighs. One carat equals 200 milligrams, and it’s divided into 100 points for precise measurement. For example, a 0.25ct diamond may be called a "twenty-five pointer," while a 1.08ct diamond would be described as "one point oh eight carats."
Generally, the higher the carat weight, the more valuable the diamond—because larger diamonds are rarer. But size isn’t everything. Two diamonds with the same carat weight can have very different values depending on their cut, colour, and clarity.
So while carat is important, it’s just one part of the full picture. A diamond’s overall beauty and value come from the balance of all 4Cs, not weight alone.
Visit our Brisbane Showroom
While browsing online is convenient, seeing our diamonds in person makes all the difference. Visiting one of our showrooms allows you to compare diamond sizes, view the sparkle firsthand, and explore styles up close. Whether you're deciding between a classic solitaire or a modern halo, our expert team is here to guide you through every option—ensuring you feel confident and inspired.
Take your time, ask questions, and get a true sense of what resonates with you. It's a special decision, and we believe the experience should feel just as special.