You might have heard countless times about getting a diamond quality certificate when buying a diamond and solitaire jewellery. For example, your solitaire engagement ring diamond certificate states its Cut is excellent; the Color grade is F, the Clarity is SI1, and the Carat weight is 1.00. But what do these alphanumeric ratings mean to you? That’s exactly what we are going to discuss in this blog. This blog is your guide to understanding the 4Cs of the solitaire diamond buying process. 

The 4Cs of buying a solitaire diamond

Whether you are buying a solitaire diamond wedding ring or a pendant for yourself, you need to check the 4Cs of the diamond to make your money worth it. The 4Cs represent the diamond’s Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat weight. Let’s understand each of these quality factors for the diamond. 

Cut: Is the diamond shining?

You might have heard terms like the diamond’s ‘brilliance,’ ‘fire,’ or ‘scintillation’ to describe its quality. They are the industry jargon that describes how much light the diamond reflects after it’s cut for jewellery like solitaire rings. When dug out from the earth, the original diamond is rough and looks like any stone that non-experts will toss out. These rough stones are cut on top and side at angles to reflect the light. The better the cuts, the brighter the diamond. 

Cut is one of the most critical variables in determining the quality of the diamond. You can check the shine of the diamonds with these cuts in the form of facets seen under the magnifying glass. Therefore, next time, check the cuts to buy the brilliant solitaire. 

The cut grade includes Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor. Excellent is the top quality, while poor is the lowest. Ideally, you should be choosing diamonds with excellent and very good ratings. However, you can also buy a good-rating diamond for a budget-friendly alternative.

Color: What is the shade of the diamond?

One of the easier Cs to determine the quality of the diamond is its Color. The ‘white’ colored diamonds are the best as they reflect most of the light, making them shine brighter. The color grading of the diamond is based on how colorless it is. Ideally, the natural diamond’s colors range from colorless to yellow Color or light brown hue. 

The Color of the diamond is graded from D to Z, with D being colorless and Z being the yellowish shade. Ideally, one should buy a diamond with D – J color grading for the best Color and quality. The G – J grading offers an affordable diamond band solitaire ring.

While looking at the Color of the diamond is easy, you can’t assure its quality just based on the Color. When seen with the naked eye, the surroundings of the diamond and the lighting affect the visible Color. 

But what if you want to buy a colored diamond for your solitaire diamond ring? You can check the density of the Color to determine its quality and price. The colored diamonds are called Fancy diamonds due to their unique colors. The denser the Color, the more expensive it is. However, you must consider the other Cs to determine the quality of the diamond. 

Clarity: Does the diamond have any flaws?

Diamonds are formed in the deeper earth’s surface under high heat and pressure. Therefore, the natural diamond crystal is rough and has flaws. These flaws can be eliminated by cutting. However, the diamond might have some flaws, known as the inclusions. The outer surface of the diamond can also have flaws known as blemishes. 

The clarity grading is based on the presence of these flaws and can be graded as follows: 

• Flawless Diamonds (FL): When seen under a microscope, the diamond has no inclusions or blemishes. 
• Internally Flawless Diamond (IF): The diamond has no internal inclusions but has some minor blemishes barely visible to experts under a microscope. 
• Very very slightly included diamond (VVS1 and VVS2): Barely visible inclusions under a 10X microscope. They are hard to detect even when tested by experts. 
• Very slightly included diamond (VS1 and VS2): Some inclusions and blemishes are visible under the 10X microscope. These are the ideal high-quality diamonds. 
• Slightly included diamond (SI1 and SI2): The inclusion and blemishes are visible under a 10X microscope but may also seem clear to the naked eye. These are the best-value diamonds used in brilliant solitaire jewellery. 
• Included diamonds (I1, I2, and I3): The inclusions significantly impact the brilliance and quality of the diamond. Ideally, it is not recommended for jewellery. 

You can pick diamonds with a clarity rating of VVS1 to SI2 based on the clarity needs and your budget. 

Carat Weight: How much does the diamond weigh?

The diamond’s value is determined by its weight. The ‘Carat’ weight system has been used for centuries. In ancient times, the traders used identical carob seeds to weigh the diamond, and so it’s called the carat weight (source). One carat is 200 milligrams.

‘Bigger’ diamonds, or those with more weight, are expensive because they are rare. However, diamonds with the same carat weight can have different prices because of their Cut, Color, and Clarity. 

The 0.50 to 0.75-carat diamonds are budget-friendly for diamond solitaire with diamond bands, while those with 1.50 to 2.50-carat weight are known for statement jewellery pieces.

How can Qissa Jewels help you in the solitaire diamond buying process?

Qissa Jewels is home to luxurious jewelry made with high-quality diamonds and gold. We are known for our exclusive and most extensive collection of natural diamonds available online in all clarity, carat weight, colors, and cuts. Whether you need a diamond in a unique color or of the highest clarity, we can help you find the perfect diamond! 

We provide our client’s expert guidance to find the best diamonds for their jewelry. You can get a quality certificate to ensure the quality of the vintage solitaire and diamond jewelry with transparent pricing. We can also create custom jewelry like the ring diamond solitaire under your budget. Contact us now for more information.

Conclusion

The solitaire diamond buying process can be confusing if you aren’t familiar with the 4Cs of the diamond’s quality. The 4Cs are the Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat weight. A well-cut diamond shines brighter as it reflects the lights. The color grading ranges from D to Z, D being colorless and Z being yellowish. Clarity refers to the presence of internal inclusions and outer blemishes. The VS or SI diamond clarity is ideal for high-quality, affordable jewellery. The Carat weight affects the price of the diamond as bigger and heavier diamonds are hard to find. The experts at Qissa can guide you in choosing the best diamond under your budget. Connect with us here or visit our store for guidance!

FAQ 

What are the 4Cs of buying the right diamond?

The 4Cs indicating the diamond’s quality are Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight. The Cut refers to the number of cuts on the diamond to create its shape and the light it reflects to make it shine. The Color refers to the colorlessness of the diamonds. The number of flaws on the diamond determines the Clarity. The carat weight refers to the weight of the diamond. The Cut and Clarity are the most critical factors in determining the quality of the diamond. 

What is the most important C to consider when buying a diamond?

Cut is one of the most important of all the 4Cs of diamond. The number and quality of the cuts are directly proportional to the shine of the diamond. The well-cut diamonds shine bright under any light. However, poorly cut diamonds are dull and lack the charm of brilliant solitaire. So, check for the quality of the cuts in the quality certificate. 

Which certificate is best for the diamond quality test?

The GIA (Gemological Institute of America) and IGI (International Gemological Institute) certificates are the most valued and unbiased diamond quality certificates in India. You can ask for any of these certificates from your diamond supplier to check the 4C rating for your chosen diamond or diamond jewelry. Qissa Jewels also offers you certificates for your jewellery.

Do you provide a diamond quality certificate with your jewellery? 

Yes. Qissa Jewels believes in offering the best quality jewelry to our customers. Therefore, we can provide you with a diamond quality certificate for each of our products.