• Epic Diamonds
  • Celebrities
  • Engagement & Weddings
  • Style
  • Men’s
  • Sustainability
  • Diamond Guide
  • Only Natural Diamonds
  • Epic Diamonds
  • Celebrities
  • Engagement & Weddings
  • Style
  • Men’s
  • Sustainability
  • Diamond Guide
  • Shop Official Retail Partners
  • Natural Diamond Council
  • Diamond Professionals
  • Sustainable Development
  • Thank You, By The Way
  • Emerging Designers Diamond Initiative
  • About Us
  • Retailer Partnership Opportunities
  • To Treasure Now and Forever
  • Lily in Botswana
  • Watch the Film
  • Lily’s Diamonds
  • On the Red Carpet
  • Everyday Diamonds
  • On Set
  • Diamonds for Him
  • Meet Lily James
  • Follow us
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Tiktok
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • US
  • India
  • France
  • UAE
  • China

Diamond Guide

Diamonds 101 is a collection of educational articles, historical background and shopping information on natural diamonds, curated to guide your purchase of diamond jewelry and answer frequently asked questions about the world’s most beloved gem. 

  • The Difference Between Natural & Lab Grown
  • Think You Know Diamonds?
  • The 4 Cs
  • Natural Diamonds and Sustainability
  • Official Retail Partner Locations
  • Discover More

The 4 Cs of Diamonds

The 4 C's of Diamond Buying
What Determines Diamond Cut

Diamond Cut

The cut of a natural diamond determines how it interacts with light. The Cut Grading System assesses diamond appearance, including its brightness, fire, and scintillation, which make up the way a diamond reflects light, dispersing it into color, and sparkles.

To maximize its beauty, natural diamond cutting requires a mix of artistry and precision. Which is why diamond cut grade also judges a diamond based on the craftsmanship that went into it, meaning the diamond proportions, polish, and final symmetry.

What determines diamond carat

Diamond Carat

The carat of a natural diamond is the measurement of the diamond’s weight. The carat derives its name from the carob seed, a small, uniform seed with a commonly equal weight. These seeds were used to balance scales in early gem trading, before the metric carat was created as the universal form of measurement.

A full diamond carat weighs 200 milligrams, and full carat and larger natural diamonds are becoming rarer by the day as supply continues to decrease and only one significant deposit has been found in decades”

What determines diamond clarity

Diamond Clarity

Natural diamonds formed deep within the Earth, and as a result, they often carry unique markings called inclusions or blemishes. These common markings are usually the result of non-carbon elements or interruptions during the extreme heat and pressure a diamond goes through while forming deep within the Earth, and can be considered small time capsules that tell the story of the natural diamond’s formation.

The clarity of diamonds refers to the absence of these inclusions or blemishes. Natural diamonds that form without any inclusions are extremely rare and deemed “flawless” on most grading scales. These rare diamonds are some of the most valuable in the world.

What determines diamond grade and color

Diamond Color

A natural diamond’s color grade is usually a measure of how colorless the diamond is. Most natural diamonds appear colorless to the average shopper, but actually have slight tones of yellow or brown. The closer the stone is to colorless, the rarer and generally more valuable it is. Natural diamonds are graded on a color scale ranging from D (colorless) to Z (heavily tinted brown or yellow).

Diamonds can also form naturally in almost any color imaginable because of factors apparent in the earth when they form. Most of these natural “fancy” colors are so rare that their value can be limitless, and they are graded on a scale more closely describing the visible color.

Explore more

Can Jewelry Ever Be Art or Do Economics Get in the Way?

By Melanie Grant, Luxury Editor of 1843 Magazine at The Economist

Wedding Mood Board

By Editorial Staff

Artist Ashley Longshore Gets Personal About Diamonds

By Lynn Yaeger

Mixed Cut Diamonds: What They Are and How to Wear Them

By Kristen Shirley
Newsletter
Get the Newsletter

Only Natural Diamonds, brought to you by the Natural Diamond Council, is the definitive destination for all things natural diamonds. We provide inspiration, insights and information on the world of real, natural diamonds recovered from the earth. This includes a behind-the-scenes look into the natural diamond industry, the latest trends in diamond jewelry design, as well as education and tips on how to buy the perfect engagement ring and other diamond jewelry.
  • Follow us
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Tiktok
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • © 2023 The Natural Diamond Council
  • Press
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Exercise My Rights
  • Site by Pollen

Get the Newsletter

Sign up for the latest diamond news, delivered directly to your inbox.