Skip to main content
  • CA  |  $ CAD
    United States Canada
  • Bridal
    • Shop Engagement Rings
    • Build Your Own Ring
    • Search Diamonds
    • Diamond Education
  • Jewellery
    • Engagement
      • Diamond Engagement Rings
      • Diamond Wedding Sets
      • Diamond Semi-Mount Rings
    • Wedding Bands
      • Women's Wedding Bands
      • Anniversary Bands
      • Men's Wedding Bands
      • Alternative Metals Rings
    • Rings
      • Diamond Celebration Rings
      • Diamond Fashion Rings
      • Gemstone Stone Rings
      • Moissanite Rings
      • Pearl Rings
      • Men's Coloured Stone Rings
      • Men's Fashion Rings
      • Silver Rings
    • Watches
      • Omega
      • Breitling
      • Tudor
      • Grand Seiko
      • TAG Heuer
      • Baume & Mercier
      • Gucci Watches
      • Longines
      • Rado
      • Seiko
      • Movado Watches
      • Tissot
      • Swarovski Watches
      • Bulova
      • Citizen
      • Hugo Boss Watches
      • G Shock
    • Necklaces
      • Diamond Necklaces
      • Colored Stone Necklaces
      • Pearl Necklace
      • Precious Metal Necklaces
      • Silver Necklaces
      • Promo Chain
    • Earrings
      • Diamond Studs
      • Diamond Earrings
      • Colored Stone Earrings
      • Moissanite Earrings
      • Gold Earrings
      • Pearl Earrings
      • Silver Earrings
    • Chains
      • Gold Chains
      • Silver Chains
    • Bracelets
      • Diamond Bracelets
      • Coloured Stone Bracelets
      • Pearl Bracelets
      • Precious Metal Bracelets
      • Silver Bracelets
      • Meditation Bangles
      • Bangle Bracelets
    • Charms/Beads
      • Precious Metal Pendants / Charms
      • Silver Charms/pendants
      • Beads
    • Estate Jewellery
      • Estate Bracelets
      • Estate Earrings
      • Estate Necklaces
      • Estate Rings
    • Meditation Rings
      • 14 KT Gold Collection
      • Gold and Silver Zen Collection
      • Free Floating Collection
      • Eternal Jewel Collection
      • Silver Serenity Collection
      • Stackable Spiritual Collection
    • Children's Jewellery
    • Men's Jewellery
    • Larus
    • Swarovski
    • Gift Cards
    • Forever Roses
    • Miscellaneous Jewellery
    • Pandora Jewellery
      • Pandora Charms
      • Pandora Rings
      • Pandora Bracelets
      • Pandora Earrings
      • Pandora Necklaces/Pendants
    • Graziella Specials
      • MOVADO
      • Charm Bracelets
  • Watches
    • Omega
    • Breitling
    • Tudor
    • Longines
    • Rado
    • Mido
    • Tissot
    • G-Shock
    • Citizen
    • Seiko
    • Bulova
    • Movado
    • Grand Seiko
    • Tag Heuer
    • Gucci
  • Sale Items
  • Designers
    • All Brands
    • Omega®
    • Breitling
    • Grand Seiko
    • Graziella Originals
    • Graziella Originals Fine Jewellery
    • Gucci
    • TAG Heuer
    • Belle & Jules™
    • Birks
    • Seiko
    • Longines®
    • Tissot
    • Ever & Ever
    • Movado
    • Swarovski
    • Pandora
    • Rado
    • Lafonn
    • Bassali
    • Gabriel & Co
    • Meditation Rings
    • Malo Bands
    • Rembrandt Charms
    • S. Kashi & Sons
    • Bulova
    • Citizen
    • Forge
    • Italgem Steel
    • Madani
    • G-Shock
    • Overnight
    • Tantalum
    • 24K Rose
    • Ammara Stone
    • Benchmark
    • William Henry Studio
  • Financing
  • Custom
  • About
    • About Us
    • Virtual Tour Oshawa
    • Testimonials
    • Our Policies
    • Gift Cards & Referrals
    • Our Blog
    • Our Events
    • Job Opportunities
  • Repairs & Services
  • Education
    • Jewellery Education
    • Diamond Education
      • The Four Cs of Diamonds
      • Diamond Buying Tips
    • Choosing The Right Setting
    • Learn About Gemstones
      • Birthstone Guide
      • Gemstone Guide
    • Precious Metals
    • Jewellery Care
      • Caring for Fine Jewellery
      • Diamond Cleaning
      • Gemstone Cleaning
    • Anniversary Guide
    • Gold Buying Guide
  • Contact
    • Oshawa
    • Whitby
  • Search
  • My Account
  • My Wish List
  • CA  |  $ CAD
    United States Canada
Graziella Fine Jewellery logo
  • ACCOUNT
  • WISH LIST
  • SHOPPING BAG (0)
  1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Diamonds

Learn About Diamonds

The Four Cs of Diamonds

Our Four C's of Diamonds guide can help you decide on the most important factors when shopping for a diamond.

  • Carat
  • Cut
  • Color
  • Clarity

The Carat Weight

The word carat derives from the word carob, a Mediterranean seed, which has an extremely consistent weight for measuring. The greater the carat weight, the rarer, and more valuable the diamond becomes. Five metric carats weighs exactly 1 gram.

Some people want the largest diamond possible. If size is a priority, we at Graziella Fine Jewellery can help you classify the proper cut, color and clarity to fit your budget economically, and fit your jewellery beautifully. Many of our engagement rings can fit diamonds up to 5.00 carats, but each ring has different size constraints based on its size and the type of setting. Prong settings can be manipulated to fit virtually any size diamond, but tension-set diamonds and bezel set diamonds have more limitations on size.

The Cut

The true definition of cut is the quality of the proportions and symmetry of the diamond. Your diamond's proportions make a vast difference on how brightly your diamond shines. An 'ideal cut' diamond is one that allows the maximum amount of light to return through the top of the diamond, which takes into consideration the depth, table size, crown height and angle, girdle thickness and more. Our diamond professionals will be happy to assist you in selecting the best diamond cut.

After a rough diamond is mined, it is evaluated to determine its best possible cut, in order to maintain the maximum clarity, color, and carat weight. The term 'cut' is often confused with diamond 'shape', such as round brilliant or princess cut.

Excellent

This is the rarest cut grade and reflects the most light.

Very Good

This cut grade reflects nearly as much light as an Excellent cut grade, but for a lower price.

Good

This cut grade reflects most of the light that enters the diamond, but not as much as a Very Good cut grade.

Fair

This cut grade may appear dull or even glassy, and is very inexpensive.

Poor

This cut grade is not carried by Graziella Fine Jewellery and is typically not recommended.

Excellent
Very Good
Good
Fair
Poor
Not carried by Graziella Fine Jewellery

MORE DIAMONDS

The Color

Color is one of the more noticeable attributes of a diamond and has a heavy impact on the price of the stone. Diamonds range from colorless to yellow or light brown, and are sometimes found in a spectrum of fancy colors, including yellow, blue, and even red diamonds. The less color, the rarer the diamond. After 'Z' on the color scale, diamonds become fancy yellow, which cost more because of their rarity.

Z-N
M-K
Noticeable Color
J
I
H
G
Near Colorless
F
E
D
Colorless
Z-N
M-K
J
I
H
G
F
E
D
Noticeable Color
Near Colorless
Colorless

The Clarity

Diamonds are composed of mostly carbon. During the heating process, other elements become trapped inside, giving each diamond its own unique fingerprint. These inclusions help identify the clarity of your diamond. All diamonds are viewed through a 10x magnification lens by diamond graders.

Flawless

No inclusions or blemishes are visible to a skilled grader.

Internally Flawless

No inclusions and only blemishes are visible to a skilled grader.

Very Very Slightly Included

Inclusions are difficult for a skilled grader to see.

Very Slightly Included

Inclusions are clearly visible but can be characterized as minor.

Slightly Included

Inclusions are noticeable to a skilled grader.

Included

Inclusions are obvious and may affect transparency and brilliance.

FFlawless
IFInternally Flawless
VVS1
VVS2
Very Very Slightly Included
VS1
VS2
Very Slightly Included
SI1
SI2
Slightly Included
I1
I2
I3
Included

MORE DIAMONDS

Shop Loose Diamonds

Graziella Fine Jewellery
Oshawa
793 Taunton Road East
Oshawa, ON L1K 1L1
(289) 240-8177
(877) 420-8177
Store Information
Whitby
Whitby Mall
1615 Dundas Street East
Whitby, ON L1N 2L1
(905) 576-0014
(866) 576-0014
Store Information
Hours
Monday - Friday:10:00am - 6:00pm
Saturday:10:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday:Closed
Jewelry
  • Engagement
  • Wedding Bands
  • Rings
  • Watches
  • Necklaces
  • Earrings
  • Chains
  • Bracelets
  • Charms/Beads
  • Estate Jewellery
  • Meditation Rings
  • Children's Jewellery
  • Men's Jewellery
  • Larus
  • Swarovski
  • Gift Cards
  • Forever Roses
  • Miscellaneous Jewellery
  • Pandora Jewellery
  • Graziella Specials
Brands
  • Omega®
  • Breitling
  • Grand Seiko
  • Graziella Originals
  • Graziella Originals Fine Jewellery
  • Gucci
  • TAG Heuer
  • Belle & Jules™
  • Birks
  • Seiko
  • Longines®
  • Tissot
  • Ever & Ever
  • Movado
  • Swarovski
  • Pandora
  • Rado
  • Lafonn
  • Bassali
  • Gabriel & Co
  • Meditation Rings
  • Malo Bands
  • Rembrandt Charms
  • S. Kashi & Sons
  • Bulova
  • Citizen
  • Forge
  • Italgem Steel
  • Madani
  • G-Shock
  • Overnight
  • Polar Light Diamonds
  • Tantalum
  • 24K Rose
  • Ammara Stone
  • Benchmark
  • William Henry Studio
Menu
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
Latest From Graziella

Be the first to know about exciting new pieces and special events.

Follow Us

© 2023 Graziella Fine Jewellery. All Rights Reserved. Website designed, maintained, and hosted by Punchmark. Accessibility Statement.