Diamond rings have many components one should consider, especially for those looking to purchase an engagement ring. Prior to purchasing and committing to an engagement ring, every woman should know the 4 C's of a diamond ring, which refers to the cut, color, clarity, and carat of the diamond. Sure the style of a ring is important to most, but the design of the center stone is essentially the main focus of a ring. Here’s a breakdown of what the 4 C’s are and why they’re important to note.

Diamond-Cut

Diamonds come in all shapes and sizes. The cut of a diamond, however, refers to its proportions and symmetry. This is very important to know because how a diamond is cut determines its sparkle. A brilliant diamond is usually classified with a cut grade of Very Good or Ideal, so look out for those! Cut grades of Ideal are only awarded to round-shaped diamonds, however. For other shapes, like a princess, look out for Good or Very Good grades.

Diamond Color

Generally speaking, the less color a diamond has, the more rare and valuable it is. Color grades range from colorless, which is a grade D, and go all the way to Z, which has a notable amount of color. E and F grades are also considered colorless. Color can’t even be spotted on G, H, and I grades with the naked eye. Diamonds below an L grade, however, are definitely not as brilliant as those graded above it. When color is visible with yellow tones, like with J, K, and L grades, colored metals are usually recommended to counteract the yellow tint of the diamond.

Diamond Clarity

Clarity refers to the diamond’s marks and blemishes, or the lack thereof. Small marks on a diamond can be a natural part of the stone, but for those wanting a clean-cut diamond, even the tiniest inclusions should be avoided. An example of a low clarity grade is a SI2. A suggested minimum clarity grade is a VS2. For a more brilliant-cut diamond, a clarity grade of at least VVS2 is highly recommended.

Diamond Carat

The carat of a diamond is the measurement of its weight. The average carat weight is 1 carat. The term carat is also commonly used to refer to a diamond’s size, but there are other factors that determine its size. Carat weight depends on the diamond shape, cut, and weight distribution. The sparkle of a diamond can, at times, be disregarded in order to get a larger carat weight. What we can take away from the 4 C’s is that size/carat isn’t everything, contrary to popular misconception, and the remaining three C’s are important to take into consideration when purchasing a lifelong diamond ring.