The word diamond is derived from the Greek word 'adamas', meaning 'unbreakable' and 'invincible', referring to it's extraordinary strength. Its durability and natural beauty has captivated the world for centuries and made it an unwavering symbol of love, commitment and luxury.

When it comes to selecting the perfect diamond for you, understanding the 4 Cs – Carat, Clarity, Color, and Cut – is essential. These 4 factors collectively determine a diamond's quality and overall beauty.

At Xronos Fine Jewellery, we typically source lab-grown diamonds in the D/E VVS-IF range, and for natural diamonds, we typically source in the SI-VVS and D-I range, depending on your budget. It's important to remember the 4 Cs are a grading method to assist you on your journey, but ultimately, beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. 

Before we get into the detail, here are some tips from us:

• Don't make assumptions about a diamond based solely on what's written on paper. Always view your stone in-person, or virtually at least. A diamond's quality can vary greatly - 2 one carat stones D VVS1 can look vastly different from one another, and a diamond with a lower colour and clarity grade can still appear bright and beautiful, for a lower price. 
• Don't be hesitant to look down the scale, and embrace the process of finding the perfect diamond for you. We're here to find you a range of different options to provide the most aesthetic stone for your budget and inspiration, and give you guidance on how to work the scale to align with your priorities.
• Every Xronos engagement ring with a diamond centre stone is accompanied by an official third party grading report (such as GIA or IGI). Salt and pepper diamonds and other gemstones are not graded (industry standard). A grading report is not a 'certification' and does not outline your stones origin. We can source natural diamonds with origin reports on request.

Carat

Carat measures a diamond’s weight, not its size. While a higher carat means a larger diamond, it's important to check your diamond's measurements. A smaller diamond that has been cut well can appear larger than a poorly cut heavier one! 

A carat weight below 1 is referred to as a 'point'. So 0.50ct is '50 points'. 

When finding the right carat weight for your engagement ring, it's crucial to keep practicality in mind. After all, this is the ring you will wear everyday! 

Clarity

The clarity of a diamond is a measure of its internal inclusions and external blemishes. Graded on a scale ranging from Flawless (no imperfections visible under 10x magnification) to Included (imperfections visible to the naked eye), clarity impacts a diamond's brilliance. While a flawless diamond is exceptionally rare, many diamonds with slightly lower clarity grades are stunning to the naked eye.

Colour

There are 2 grading scales for diamond colour. The standard grading scale for traditional white diamonds is looking for the absence of colour. It runs from D (colourless) to Z (noticeable color). The colour grades are grouped:

• D, E and F: colourless (your diamond will be bright and clear).
• G, H, I and J: near colourless (your diamond will be overall bright and clear, but as we move further down the scale, a light yellow hue will become more prominent).
• K, L and M: faint colour 
• N, O, P, Q and R: very light 
• S, T, U, V, W, X, Y and Z: light yellow or brown.

Unlike white diamonds, fancy coloured diamonds—such as pink, blue, or yellow—are graded based on the intensity of their colour. While we look for the absence of colour for traditional white diamonds - for fancy colours we are looking for intense colour - the exact opposite! The scale includes categories like Faint, Very Light, Fancy Light, Fancy, Fancy Intense, Fancy Vivid, and Fancy Deep, with more vibrant colours being the most valuable.

Cut

Arguably the most critical of the 4 Cs, the cut of a diamond determines how well it reflects light. Cut is graded from Excellent to Poor, with factors such as symmetry, proportions, and polish taken into account. A well-cut diamond will maximize light return, creating brilliance, fire, and scintillation. Even a diamond with exceptional colour and clarity may appear lackluster if the cut is subpar.

Brilliant cut diamonds, such as your round, oval and cushion, are cut with more facets to provide you with an intense sparkle. Step-cut diamonds, such as your emerald cut, are cut with less facets, and offer more symmetry and depth instead of intense light play. 

Summary

Simply put, the 4 Cs work in harmony to define a diamond's beauty and value. When selecting a diamond, it's crucial to consider the interplay of carat weight, clarity, colour, and cut to find the perfect balance for your preferences and budget. Armed with knowledge about the 4 Cs and guided by our expert knowledge, you can confidently choose your diamond.