If you’re thinking of a diamond then you’ll often see the term the four Cs on jewelry sites and in reviews. What are the four Cs?

The four Cs are carat, colour, clarity and cut. These are the four elements of a finished diamond that most heavily influence the price you’re likely to pay for it.

Carat
This is simply the weight of the stone – larger diamonds have a higher carat value.

Colour
Diamonds come in all colours, some are more expensive than others. Which colours cost most is a function of both rarity and fashion. For example chocolate diamonds have only become popular relatively recently.

Clarity
Diamond clarity refers to how close the stone is to perfect. Most gems have some internal flaws, often invisible to the naked eye. There are a variety of clarity grades used by jewelers to describe a stone.

Cut
There are a wide variety of diamond cuts including Princess, Asscher, Marquise etc. The value of a cut depends on a variety of factors including its popularity, how skilfully it has been crafted, how appropriate it is to the particular stone, etc.

These Four Cs go a long way to determining the price of a diamond, however the best stone for you may depend on other far more personal factors. Happy shopping!