FORGED UNDER UNIQUE CONDITIONS, A DIAMOND IS AN EVERLASTING EXPRESSION OF YOUR LOVE AND COMMITMENT
Grading Diamond Quality, The 4Cs
The 4Cs of diamond grading:
- Colour grade
- Clarity grade
- Cut grade
- Carat weight
Beautiful. Rare. Cherished. Each diamond is unique and is a miracle of time, place and change. Each diamond has specific, unique qualities that establish its value.
Until the middle of the twentieth century, there was no agreed-upon standard by which diamonds could be graded. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) created the first, and now globally accepted standard for grading diamonds: Colour, Clarity, Cut and Carat Weight. Today, the 4Cs of Diamond Quality is the universal method for assessing the quality of any diamond, anywhere in the world.
The creation of the Diamond 4Cs meant two very important things – diamond quality could be communicated in a universal language, and diamond customers could now know exactly what they were about to purchase.
Laboratory Grading Certificates
You can’t differentiate between Naturally formed diamonds, HPHT laboratory grown diamonds, and CVD laboratory cultivated diamonds with the naked eye. Only scientists can distinguish the differences by analysing and identifying markers caused by the growth conditions.
The grading criteria for mined and laboratory grown diamonds are identical, and both gemstones are sold with independent Laboratory Grading Certificates from reputable laboratories worldwide. As creator of the Diamond 4Cs and the International Diamond Grading System™, GIA is the global authority, and trusted source for unbiased assessment.
For more information on Diamond Grading, watch GIA’s video guide below – How to Choose a Diamond | A Tour of the 4Cs and the GI
