The Four C's of a Diamond
THE FOUR C’S
To understand the magic of the diamond it is essential to understand the measures we use to decipher this wondrous object, and at Stefan our specialists are expert at helping you understand the cut, clarity, colour, and carat weight, the quintessential 4 C’s of diamonds.
CUT
Fire and brilliance, dark and light – the exquisite wielding of the diamond cutters art.
A perfectly cut diamond sparkles with intensity and fire. The ‘Cut’ refers to the proportions and extraordinary finish created when transforming a rough diamond into a finely polished diamond.
Of all the four Cs, ‘cut’ has the most influence on a diamond’s brilliance, radiance and beauty. Round diamonds, with the most demanding cutting standards, are the most brilliant of all shapes.
To measure the exacting proportions of a Stefan diamond, our diamond cutters and buyers use the ‘Sarin Brilliant Eye’. A complex machine, able to carefully and consistently measure every facet and angle, providing unparalleled accuracy and a detailed printout of the quality and precision of a round diamond’s cut.
Each round diamond receives a Sarin cut grade from 0, being the most brilliant, to 10, the least brilliant. This extra step is just one way Stefan Jewellers take the mystery out of evaluating and comparing stones, assuring that you are getting the most beautiful diamond for your budget.
When a diamond has been cut to ‘ideal proportions’ by a master cutter, it will refract light internally from one facet to another, and release the light through the top. This creates the enchanting sparkle and brilliance that make Stefan diamonds so exquisitely desirable.
To achieve this every diamond bearing the Stefan name is cut either ideally (0) or premium (1-2) cut. We won’t sell any stones that we deem cut too shallow or too deep, or recommend a round brilliant cut diamond with a Sarin grade’ above 4.
COLOUR
It’s remarkable that a characteristic so subtle can have such a dramatic impact on a diamond’s value. However, truly colourless diamonds are the most rare and exquisite of them all.
To the untrained eye, most gem-quality diamonds appear colourless, when in fact there are minuscule differences in shade – the result of trace elements combining with carbon over the diamond’s million-year formation.
To determine its true colour, every Stefan diamond is graded in an accredited, internationally recognized Gemmological laboratory. It is viewed on its side under balanced white light and assigned a colour grade according to an internationally recognised “Master Set” of diamond colour grades.
Thanks to this unique certification, you can have absolute ‘confidence’ that your Stefan diamond reflects all the subtle, colourless beauty you have fallen in love with.
CLARITY
All diamonds are unique. And while all Stefan diamonds are incredibly beautiful, no two are alike.
It’s a fact that most diamonds have flaws, called ‘inclusions’. These inclusions form an integral part of the personality unique to each diamond. Inclusions can be in the shape of crystals, feathers or lines generally unseen to the human eye unless magnified.
Clarity is determined by the absence of inclusions – the fewer the inclusions, the more rare and more valuable the diamond. Clarity ‘grades’ are then determined by the number, size, colour and location of inclusions. The smaller and less visible the inclusions, the higher the diamond’s grade.
Stefan diamond graders and buyers use a type of microscope called a ‘Gemscope’ for examining diamonds. This allows inclusions to be easily seen and evaluated, so when you choose your Stefan diamond, you can do so with absolute ‘confidence’.
When selecting your diamond in store we are happy to provide a Gemscope for you to use, so you can discover the unique qualities that make your diamond beautiful and unique.
CARAT
The most obvious factor of a diamond’s value is its size. However, two diamonds of equal size can have completely different values because of the other Cs: cut, colour and clarity.
As with all precious gems, the weight or size of a diamond is measured in carats. One carat is equal to 200 milligrams. When weighing diamonds, a 1.00 carat is divided into 100 points; therefore, a diamond of 25 points is also described as 0.25 carats or a quarter of a carat.
As a diamond increases in size, its rarity increases, which also increases the price-per-carat exponentially. Therefore, a two-carat diamond is more than twice as valuable than a one-carat diamond of the same quality and characteristics.
At Stefan’s we like to add a 5th “C”, which stands for “Confidence” in the quality of the diamonds that we sell. This is our passion!
Diamond education
The Four C's
To understand the magic of a diamond, it helps to understand how it is measured.
Cut, colour, clarity and carat weight are the four qualities every diamond is judged by. Our specialists will happily walk you through each one, so you can choose with complete confidence.
Cut
Fire and brilliance, dark and light.
A perfectly cut diamond sparkles with intensity and fire. Cut describes the proportions and finish created when a rough diamond is transformed into a polished one, and of all the four C's, it has the greatest influence on a diamond's brilliance and beauty.
Cut to ideal proportions, light travels from facet to facet and returns through the top of the stone, creating the sparkle that makes a Stefan diamond so desirable.
- Round brilliants have the most demanding cutting standards and are the most brilliant of all shapes.
- We measure every round diamond with the Sarin Brilliant Eye, which records every facet and angle.
- We only offer diamonds with an Excellent or Very Good cut grade, never stones cut too shallow or too deep.
GIA cut scale
We source only Excellent and Very Good cut diamonds, the two highest grades on the GIA cut scale, so every stone returns as much light and sparkle as possible.
Colour
The rarest diamonds are truly colourless.
To the untrained eye most diamonds look colourless, yet there are minute differences in shade, the result of trace elements combining with carbon over millions of years. The less colour a diamond has, the rarer it is.
Every Stefan diamond is graded by an accredited, internationally recognised gemmological laboratory. It is viewed on its side under balanced white light and compared against a master set of colour grades, so you can trust the colour you fall in love with.
Colour scale · D to Z
Clarity
No two diamonds are alike.
Most diamonds contain tiny natural characteristics called inclusions: crystals, feathers or fine lines that are usually invisible without magnification. They are part of each diamond's unique personality.
Clarity is graded by the number, size, colour and position of inclusions. The fewer and smaller they are, the rarer the diamond. In store, we're happy to let you look through our Gemscope microscope and discover your diamond's character for yourself.
Clarity scale · rarest to most included
Carat
Size matters, but it isn't everything.
Carat measures a diamond's weight. One carat equals 200 milligrams and is divided into 100 points, so a 25-point diamond is 0.25 carats, or a quarter of a carat.
Larger diamonds are rarer, so price rises faster than size: a two-carat diamond is worth more than twice a one-carat diamond of the same quality. And two diamonds of equal weight can differ greatly in value because of their cut, colour and clarity.
Round brilliant · approximate size
1 carat = 200 mg = 100 points
The fifth C
Confidence
At Stefan, we add a fifth C: confidence in the quality of every diamond we sell. It's our passion, and our promise to you.