The 4 C's
Treasure of Time
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Every diamond is unique. Each reflects the story of its arduous journey from deep inside the earth to a cherished object of adornment. Yet all diamonds share certain features that allow us to compare and evaluate them. These features are called the 4Cs.
How GIA Grades Your Diamond
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GIA has been entrusted with grading some of the world’s most famous diamonds, and brings the same unmatched expertise to grading yours.
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Independent and nonprofit, GIA is considered the final word on a diamond’s authenticity and quality. GIA developed the 4Cs and the International Diamond Grading System™, the standard used around the globe.
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GIA screens every gemstone to identify synthetics, simulants and known treatments. Expert gemologists examine each diamond under controlled lighting and viewing conditions, in order to provide the most rigorous assessments of a diamond’s 4Cs.
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Every GIA grading report contains these assessments along with additional descriptive information and state of the art security features.
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Buying a diamond is a momentous decision. GIA reports let you make it with confidence.
GIA 4Cs of Diamond Quality
Wonder of Nature
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There is no other gemstone quite like a diamond. It is found in the most remote places on earth, and the fact that it forms at all is something of a miracle. It takes about one ton of rock to recover less than half a carat of rough, making diamond one of the rarest and most desired gemstones in the world. A diamond is a testament of endurance and strength – and not surprisingly, the ultimate symbol of love.
The 1st C: Color
The GIA Color Scale extends from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown).
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Although many people think of gem quality diamonds as colorless, truly colorless diamonds are actually very rare. Most diamonds used in jewelry are nearly colorless with tints of yellowor brown.
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Color grades are determined by comparing each diamond to a master set. Each letter grade represents a range of color and is a measure of how noticeable a color is.
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Fluorescence Some diamonds can emit a visible light when exposed to ultraviolet radiation, but fluorescence is not a factor in determining color or clarity grades. However, a description of its strength and color is provided on GIA Reports as an additional identifying characteristic.
The 2nd C: Clarity
The GIA Clarity Scale includes eleven clarity grades ranging from Flawless to I3.
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Because diamonds form under tremendous heat and pressure, it is extremely rare to find a diamond that lacks any internal and external characteristics. These characteristics are a by-product of its formation and help gemologists separate natural diamonds from synthetics and simulants, and identify individual stones.
The 3rd C: Cut
The GIA Cut Scale ranges from Excellent to Poor.
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A polished diamond’s beauty lies in its complex relationship with light. The magnificent display you see is made up of three attributes: Brightness is the combination of all white light reflecting from the surface and interior of a diamond. Fire describes the “flares” of color emitted from a diamond. Scintillation describes the pattern of light and dark areas and the sparkle you see when the diamond, the light, or the observer moves.
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A diamond’s proportions affect its light performance, which in turn affects its beauty and overall appeal. Diamonds with fine proportions, symmetry, and polish optimize their interaction with light, and have increased brightness, fire, and scintillation.
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GIA assesses these factors for standard round brilliant diamonds in the D-to-Z color range.
The 4th C: Carat Weight
One carat equals 200 milligrams in weight.
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For diamonds under one carat, each carat is divided into 100 points – similar to pennies in a dollar. 0.75 ct. = 75 points, 1/2 ct. = 50 points.
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Beauty and Its Beholder. The 4Cs provide a way to objectively compare and evaluate diamonds, but numbers alone can’t describe a diamond’s mysterious and captivating beauty – for that, you’ll have to visit your local jeweler to see one for yourself.