The Lieberati 4Cs Diamond Guide
Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat - the 4Cs synonymous to diamond buying and grading.
When it comes to selecting a diamond for your engagement ring, these are the 4 attributes one should consider focusing on.
We've put together a guide to the 4Cs that simplifies and assists in your decision-making process - making it less of a hassle, and more of an educated summary.
CUT
Cut is usually referred to the shape of the diamond in consumer terms, however in the world of Gemmology, it is more referred to the quality of the craftsmanship of the diamond itself. The GIA certification determines that only round brilliant diamonds receive a cut grade, this determines how well proportioned the diamond is and how each part of the stone has been cut, crafted and polished to maximise a diamond's potential in sparkle and brilliance.
We recommend that out of the 4Cs, this is the one C you should not compromise on. Without an excellent or ideal cut on a round brilliant diamond with good proportions, the diamond will fail to sparkle as brightly as it should.
That said, a well cut diamond maximises the light that bounces within the diamond and won't let light escape through other parts of the stone.
So how does one measure the quality of cut on a fancy shape diamond?
That depends and varies from one diamond cutter to another, there is however a good universal judge to the craftsmanship of a well cut fancy shape diamond...
2 factors to focus on are the polish and symmetry.
When a diamond has excellent polish, the exterior of the facets are perfectly smooth so light is able to reflect and sparkle with ultimate sheen.
Symmetry on the other hand refers to the alignment of a diamond's facets within the stone, when a diamond consists of excellent symmetry, the facets will act like mirrors within and bounce light back out of the crown tantalisingly.
Alright, so we've covered the most technical aspect of the 4Cs, let's move forward to....
COLOUR
A natural diamond's colour grade is usually a measure of how colourless the diamond is. Most natural diamonds appear colourless to the average consumer, however when placed side by side, some will have slighter tones of yellow and brown compared to a near colourless diamond. That said, colour is not something that is bad.
Here is how colour is graded on a natural white diamond:
As mentioned above though, colour is not necessarily a bad thing, depending on the style or shape of the diamond, and provided that Carat would be of utmost importance, this is the C we'd suggest to lower when selecting a diamond for daily wear.
CLARITY
The extreme conditions by which diamonds form in the Earth can result in inclusions within the stone and external blemishes.
Clarity refers to a natural diamond's absence of inclusions.
Diamonds without inclusions are very rare and expensive.
The GIA grades for clarity is determined under 10x magnification, this means that to the naked eye, most inclusions can't be seen on the stone without a diamond loupe.
That's where we come in....
As a jeweller, we recommend a clarity grade of VS1 to SI2 in order to obtain the best value for a diamond, this allows us to focus the budget on the other two aesthetically noticeable qualities that are colour and size.
CARAT
The C everyone talks about first and foremost when it comes to size.
Carat is the measurement of how much a diamond weighs and not usually referred to its size.
Two diamond shapes with the same carat weight could look very different. For example, a 1.00ct round brilliant would look smaller than a 1.00ct oval, due to an oval with an elongated shape and wider face-up spread. 
Some weights are considered "Magic Sizes" - 1/2ct, 3/4ct, and 1 carat.
Visually, there is little difference between a 0.99ct diamond and one that weighs a full carat. Though there is only a 0.01ct difference, prices can vary vastly and significantly between a rounded number and one that is a couple of points lower.
That said, it is wise to take note that though the larger the diamond, the higher the value, Carat is however not the only C that determines a diamond's final value.
Essentially, the 4Cs as a whole is what affects a diamond's end price.
Prioritise your 4Cs in order and we'll do the rest in searching for the best diamonds to maximise your budget.
For a more in-depth ring buying guide, here's 7 steps towards that dream ring.
