The 4 C's of diamonds

The quality of diamonds is defined by the "4C":

CUT: Should not be confused with shape. A diamond with a quality cut, regardless of shape, reflects the light better, is more brilliant and has more luster. For example, a cut diamond in round shape has at least 56 facettes plus table und culet (tip of the stone). The most popular shapes are explained below.

Full Cut Full Cut A cut diamond in round shape with 56 facettes plus table and culet
Emerald-Cut Emerald-Cut A cut diamond in octagon shape
Pear Shape Pear Shape A cut diamond in pear shape
Marquise Marquise A cut diamond in marquise shape
Oval Oval A cut diamond in oval shape
Princess Princess A cut diamond in square shape with more facettes

COLOUR: Clear appearance of diamond reflects the greatest amount of colour. Light travels easily through an absolute colorless diamond and exits as all colours of rainbow.

Colour grade:

Colour grade: River+ Colour grade: River+ (D)
River River (E)
Top Wesselton+ Top Wesselton+ (F)
Top Wesselton Top Wesselton (G)
Wesselton Wesselton (H)
Top Crystal Top Crystal (I-J)
Crystal Crystal (K-L)
Top Cape Top Cape (M-N)
Cape Cape (O)
Light Yellow Light Yellow (P-Y)
Yellow Yellow (Z)

The yellow line is just one of many natural diamond colours.
Also to natural colours there are artificial colours (eg. canary, cognac, petrol) which are achieved by irradiation.

Clarity: Most diamonds have very small (microscopic) natural properties reffered to as inclusions. The fewer and smaller the inclusions, the better is the transmission of light through the diamond.

For the experienced specialist with a ten times magnifying glass

International abbreviation International definition Description  
IF Internally flawless Undetectable Internally flawless
VVS Very very small inclusions Difficult to recognize Very very small inclusions
VS Very small inclusions Relatively easy to recognize Very small inclusions
SI Small inclusions Easy to recognize Small inclusions

For the experienced specialist with the bare eye

CARAT (Weight): The unit of weight for diamonds is the carat. By Definition, one carat equals 100 points or 0.02 gram. For example, a 75-points diamond equals 3/4 or 0.75 carat.