The 4Cs
- 4Cs
- The four measures of diamond quality: carat weight, color, cut and clarity.
- Carat weight
- A diamond's size is measured in carats (ct). One carat equals 100 points, or 0.2 grams.
- Color
- The colors a diamond takes on through outside influences. The most common is colorless.
- Clarity
- The inclusions or flaws inside a diamond. Their color, number, size and position all affect clarity to different degrees.
- Cut
- The precision of a diamond's proportions and the quality of its finish.
Parts of a diamond
- Crown
- The part of a cut stone above the girdle.
- Table
- The flat surface at the top of the crown.
- Girdle
- The narrow band of a finished diamond that marks the boundary between the crown and the pavilion.
- Pavilion
- The lower part of a diamond, below the girdle.
- Culet
- The small facet at the very bottom of a brilliant-cut diamond, or a small facet along the keel line of a step cut.
- Facet
- A flat, polished surface on a finished diamond.
- Wing
- Either of the two sides of a heart, pear or marquise-shaped diamond.
Light and sparkle
- Brilliance
- The brightness produced by white light reflected from inside and from the surface of a polished diamond.
- Fire
- The flashes of colored light you see in a finished diamond.
- Scintillation
- The flashes of light seen when the diamond, the light or the viewer moves.
Craftsmanship and durability
- Finish
- The quality of the polish and the precision of a finished diamond's cut.
- Symmetry
- The precision and balance of a finished diamond's facets.
- Hardness
- A diamond's resistance to scratching and abrasion.
- Toughness
- A diamond's resistance to breaking and chipping.
