Learn the 4 C's - Color, Cut, Clarity and Carat Weight

Before you even start diamond shopping, you want to have a full understanding of what you're buying. This guide simplifies the four Cs of diamonds - cut, color, clarity, and carat weight, so you can select your diamond based on the same criteria jewelers use to grade them.

Diamonds are cut into a variety of shapes. The most popular are round, marquise, pear, emerald, oval, heart, square, princess, baguette and trillion. All but round are considered fancy shapes. Fancy shapes can be more expensive because they are more difficult to cut.

After reading through this guide, you'll be ready to choose the diamond that's right for you.

» View Types of Diamond Shapes

Diamonds are cut in many beautiful shapes.

To learn how the cut of a diamond affects its brilliance, see diamond cut. When choosing a diamond, you should be familiar with the 4 C's: color, clarity, cut and carat weight. These characteristics help determine the quality and value of each diamond. Although you may be most interested in the obvious shape and carat weight when choosing a diamond, it's important to consider the color and cut, too. The experts at Jewelry By Net select diamonds that combine all 4C's to ensure that you get the best value.

» View Types of Diamond Cuts

Diamond Color

The more color a diamond has, the less light passes through the stone to make it sparkle. A colorless diamond allows more light to pass through it to create the maximum amount of brilliance. Colorless diamonds, however, are extremely rare. Colorless and near-colorless diamonds are most highly valued and are priced accordingly. Other diamonds may have a slight tint of color, and some can even have a readily noticeable tint which can diminish the brilliance. To help you choose the most brilliant diamond, Jewelry By Net offers diamonds with the highest grades of color.

» View Types of Diamond Colors

Diamond Clarity

The natural imperfections in diamonds are called inclusions - minerals or crystals trapped inside the stone during its formation. The characteristics of the inclusions determine the clarity of the diamond. Diamonds that have no inclusions will reflect more light and are very rare. Nearly all diamonds contain these inclusions, or tiny "birthmarks," which make each stone unique. Most are unseen to the unaided eye; jewelers need magnifiers to identify them.

Diamonds completely free from internal flaws, or inclusions, are very rare and highly valued. Clarity is graded based on the number, location, size, and type of the inclusions found in a diamond. Jewelry By Net has some of the clearest diamonds available. Learn how to choose the best grade of clarity for your diamond at the best price.

» View Types of Diamond Clarity

Diamond Cut

The cut of a diamond has a tremendous effect on its sparkle, or brilliance. Even if the diamond has perfect color and clarity, a poor cut can make a diamond look dull. Jewelry By Net carries only the highest grades of diamond cut, which present the most beautiful brilliance. Learn how to choose a diamond cut that has the most brilliance within your budget.

Cut refers to the precise proportions and dimensions of a finished diamond. How a diamond is cut affects the stone's "brilliance," or how much it sparkles. A stone that has been cut properly allows light to enter and refract through the stone, which creates brilliance. A stone that is too shallow or too deep will look dull and lifeless. The most popular shapes are shown in the chart below. Jewelry By Net generally carries diamonds in the 3 most popular shapes: Round, Princess and Marquise.

» View Types of Diamond Cuts

Please note: Cut should not be confused with shape. To learn about diamond shapes, click here.

Diamond Settings

The setting for your stone is like a picture frame: it holds and protects the stone, and enhances its beauty. Most fine jewelers offer several different setting styles. As you search for the perfect piece of jewelry, it helps to know that different settings will complement your stone and your lifestyle.

» View Types of Diamond Settings

Carat Weight

The weight of a diamond is measured in carats. Total carat weight (T.W.) is the total weight of all the stones in a piece of jewelry. For example, a ring with one 1/2 carat stone and two 1/4 carat stones would have a T.W. of 1 carat. Since larger diamonds are more rare than smaller diamonds, diamond value tends to rise exponentially with carat weight. Read more about carat weight and learn how to balance diamond quality with the size of your diamond.

» View Types of Diamond Carat Weight

Caring For Your Your Diamond

Many people think diamonds are indestructible, but they do require care. Read how to keep your diamond sparkling, and securely set in your ring and other types of jewelry.

» Learn About Caring For Your Diamond Jewelry

Confidence and Quality Assurance

Although the standard grading system includes 4 characteristics, at Jewelry By Net we add a fifth C. It stands for confidence. Our diamond buyers select diamonds by using specific guidelines to offer the most popular cuts and qualities at the best possible price. This provides you with the confidence to know that you are receiving the best value.