Diamond education · The 5Cs
Choose the diamond, not the shorthand.
Cut, colour, clarity and carat help compare diamonds. Our fifth C is confidence, which comes from understanding the grading report and seeing how the stone actually behaves.
Laboratory-grown diamonds · Personally considered for beauty and proportionA shared language, not a verdict.
The 4Cs of cut, colour, clarity and carat weight allow diamonds to be compared consistently, but a set of grades cannot capture every part of a stone’s personality.
Proportion, light return, transparency and the relationship between diamond and setting all affect what you see. The most valuable choice is not necessarily the highest grade in every category; it is the balance that creates the appearance you want within the right budget.
The C that brings the light.
Cut describes how successfully a diamond’s facets, angles and proportions work together with light. A beautifully cut stone can appear bright, lively and balanced.
Cut is not the same as shape. Round, oval, emerald, pear and marquise describe outline and faceting style. Cut quality describes the execution.
- Brightness across the stone
- Balanced facet pattern
- Attractive proportions
- No distracting dark or glassy areas
Less colour is one choice, not the only beautiful one.
Within the standard colour range, grading moves from D, meaning colourless, towards increasingly noticeable yellow or brown tones. Appearance also depends on size, shape and setting.
A near-colourless diamond can appear beautifully white when worn. Yellow or rose gold may make warmth feel intentional; white metal can make small differences more visible.
Beautiful to the eye.
Clarity records internal characteristics called inclusions and surface characteristics called blemishes. Laboratories assess their size, position, nature and visibility under magnification.
Eye-clean is not an official grade. It is a practical description of a diamond whose characteristics are not distracting to the unaided eye. Position and transparency matter alongside the letters on the report.
- Ask whether anything is visible without magnification
- Check whether an inclusion affects transparency or durability
- Look carefully through open step cuts such as emerald and Asscher
Weight, not width.
Carat is a unit of weight: one carat equals 0.2 grams. It does not tell you the exact dimensions of a diamond or how large it will look on the hand.
Two diamonds of the same weight can face up differently because of shape, depth and proportions. Compare carat with millimetre measurements, finger coverage and setting style.
- Carat weight
- Face-up dimensions
- Proportion
- Setting
- Finger coverage
Read the report. Then look at the diamond.
What is often called a certificate is more accurately an independent grading report. It records laboratory-grown origin and documented characteristics; it is not a valuation, warranty or promise of future resale value.
For a report-bearing centre stone, we disclose the grading laboratory and relevant details before purchase. The report supports a visual assessment rather than replacing it.
- Confirm the report says laboratory-grown
- Match the report number to any inscription where applicable
- Compare dimensions as well as weight
- Review polish, symmetry and any noted treatments
The report begins the conversation.
We consider a diamond as part of a finished piece: light performance, proportions, transparency, face-up balance and the relationship with the setting.
There is no universal formula. There is a more thoughtful balance for the ring, the person and the budget.
- For brilliance, protect cut and lively light return
- For scale, compare dimensions rather than weight alone
- For budget, spend where the difference can be seen