In beginning diamond research, you’ll quickly run into the Four C’s. These are extremely important because they reflect the characteristics of the diamond, but the extensive articles can sometimes be confusing. No one element is more important than the other in the jewelry industry, but you may personally favor one element over another. That being said, we will show you here what makes a good diamond.
In the end, you want a diamond that sparkles and reflects light as much as possible. All the C’s contribute to this. Most people prefer beauty (which usually means light-reflecting and icy white-blue color) over size, because you can always upgrade later, but the final decision is up to you.
No matter how highly the diamond may be graded in color, clarity, and carat, if a diamond is poorly cut, it will not refract and reflect light, therefore greatly reducing the sparkle. The best cuts are Ideal or Excellent, Ideal2, or Star129.
As a rough guide, we recommend first choosing the best cut possible. Then, for best value and clarity, find the best cut with a VS1-VS2 and F-I in color. Finally, use carat weight to leverage the price, and make sure there is a certificate from GIA or AGSL included verifying these grades.
Avoid buying a diamond with a clarity rating less than SI1 and a color rating less than I. You can enhance the look of your diamond in the ring design, depending on your metal choice or prongs. Prongs can potentially cover a small inclusion if placed correctly (ask your jeweler about this) and certain elements, such as a halo, can visually enhance the look of the size of the center diamond.
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