Exceptional jewelry, Honestly priced
What Are the 4Cs?
The 4Cs—Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight—are the universal standard for diamond quality.
Cut
Cut refers to how well a diamond has been shaped and faceted, impacting its overall brilliance and appearance. It encompasses proportions, symmetry, and polish, determining how efficiently the diamond captures light and reflects it back to the viewer's eye. A well-cut diamond will exhibit brilliance (the total light reflected), fire (the dispersion of light into colours), and scintillation (the pattern of light and dark areas and the flashes of light or sparkle).
The quality of the cut is graded from Excellent to Poor. Among the "Four Cs" (carat, colour, clarity, and cut), the cut is crucial as it directly influences a diamond's sparkle and overall aesthetic appeal.
Color
Color refers to the presence or absence of color in white diamonds. Diamonds are graded on a scale from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown). Truly colorless diamonds, graded as D, are rare and highly valued, while diamonds with noticeable color, closer to the Z grade, are less valuable.
The color of a diamond can affect its brilliance as colors can act as a filter, impacting the spectrum of light emitted. When evaluating diamonds, color is one of the "Four Cs" (along with carat, cut, and clarity) used to determine the stone's quality and value.
Clarity
Clarity refers to the presence of internal or external imperfections, known as inclusions and blemishes, respectively. These imperfections can range from tiny, nearly invisible flaws to noticeable marks. Clarity grades vary from "Flawless" (no inclusions or blemishes visible under 10x magnification) to "Included" (inclusions and/or blemishes visible to the naked eye).
Most diamonds have imperfections that are microscopic and do not affect the stone's beauty to the unaided eye. Clarity is one of the "Four Cs" (along with carat, cut, and colour) used to assess a diamond's quality and value.
Carat weight
Carat (ct) refers to the weight of a stone and not the size, this is a particularly important thing to know when shopping for a diamond.
Just as a dollar is divided into 100 cents, a carat is divided into 100 points. For example, a 50-point diamond weighs 0.50 carats (ct). Two diamonds of equal weight can have very different values depending on the other members of the 4 C’s: clarity, colour and cut. All else being equal, diamond price increases with diamond carat weight because larger diamonds are rarer and more desirable.
Each of these factors plays a role in the look, feel, and value of your diamond. At Berkeley Gems, we help you find the right balance of beauty and brilliance.
Certified for Confidence
We only offer diamonds graded by world-renowned labs:
Gemological Institute of America (GIA), International Gemological Institute (IGI), or Hoge Raad voor Diamant (HRD).
These organizations provide independent certification that verifies your diamond’s 4Cs—so you can shop with total transparency and peace of mind. Your certification is always included with your purchase.