Skip to main contentSkip to navigationSkip to footer
  • Toggle Toolbar Search Menu
  • Toggle My Account Menu
  • Toggle My Wish List
  • Toggle My Shopping Cart
Smith Jewelers
  • Engagement Rings
    • Start with a Setting
    • Start with a Diamond
    • Designer Engagement Rings
    • Diamond Education
  • Designers
    • Allison Kaufman
    • Angelica
    • Benchmark
    • Citizen
    • ELLE
    • IDD
    • Imperial
    • Kiddie Kraft
    • Leslie's
    • Master IJO Jeweler
    • Michou
    • Midas
    • Ostbye
    • Overnight
    • Parle
    • Rembrandt Charms
    • Stuller
    • Victor
  • Shop Jewelry
    • Bracelets
        Colored Stone BraceletsGemstone BraceletsDiamond BraceletsGold BraceletsMedical BraceletPearl BraceletsSilver BraceletsAngelica BraceletsBangle BraceletsChain BraceletsFashion BraceletsReligious Bracelets
    • Charms
        Gold Pendants/charmsSilver CharmsBeads
    • Custom Jewelry
        Custom BraceletsCustom PendantsCustom RingsClocks
    • Earrings
        Colored Stone EarringsDiamond EarringsGold EarringsPearl EarringsGemstone EarringsSilver EarringsEarring JacketsFashion EarringsDiamond Fashion Earrings
    • Necklaces
        Colored Stone NecklaceDiamond NecklacesPearl NecklaceSilver NecklaceChainsGold NecklaceDiamond Fashion NecklacesFashion NecklacesFamily NecklacesReligious Necklaces
    • Pendants
        Colored Stone PendantsGemstone NecklacesDiamond PendantsPearl PendantsDiamond Fashion PendantsFashion Pendants
    • Rings
        Diamond Anniversary RingsDiamond Bridal Set/trioDiamond Engagement RingsEngagement RingsDiamond Semi-mount RingsDiamond Wedding Bands - WomenDiamond Wedding Bands - MenDiamond Wrap/insertDiamond Fashion Rings - WomenDiamond Fashion RingsDiamond Fashion Rings - MenGold Wedding Bands - WomenGold Wedding Bands - MenGold Fashion Rings - WomenGold Fashion Ring - MenColored Stone Rings - WomenGemstone RingsPearl RingsSilver Rings With StonesSilver Rings Without StonesTungsten, Titanium, Cobalt RingsMen's Wedding BandsFashion RingsFamily RingsWomen's Wedding BandsWrap RingsWomen's Diamond Rings
    • Watches
        Watches Citizen - WomenWatches Citizen - MenWatches Belair - WomenWatches Belair - MenUnisex Watches
    • Cufflinks
    • Pins
        Brooches
    • Baby Jewelry
    • Tie Tacks
    • Jewelry
    • Anklets
    • Sets
    • Other
    • Charm Bracelets
    • Gemstone Pendants
    • Gemstone Fashion Rings
    • Wedding Sets
  • Diamonds
  • Antwerp Diamonds
  • News
    • Newsletter
    • Our Blog
    • Social Media
    • Education
  • Our Store
    • About Us
    • Meet Our Staff
    • IJO Master Jeweler
    • Create A Wishlist
  • Contact
  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 Smith Jewelers can help you classify the proper cut, color and clarity to fit your budget economically, and fit your jewelry 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 Smith Jewelers and is typically not recommended.

Excellent
Very Good
Good
Fair
Poor
Not carried by Smith Jewelers

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

Jewelry
  • Bracelets
  • Charms
  • Custom Jewelry
  • Earrings
  • Necklaces
  • Pendants
  • Rings
  • Watches
  • Cufflinks
  • Pins
  • Baby Jewelry
  • Tie Tacks
  • Jewelry
  • Anklets
  • Sets
  • Other
  • Charm Bracelets
  • Gemstone Pendants
  • Gemstone Fashion Rings
  • Wedding Sets
Collections
  • Allison Kaufman
  • Angelica
  • Benchmark
  • Citizen
  • ELLE
  • IDD
  • Imperial
  • Kiddie Kraft
  • Leslie's
  • Master IJO Jeweler
  • Michou
  • Midas
  • Ostbye
  • Overnight
  • Parle
  • Rembrandt Charms
  • Stuller
  • Victor
Store Hours
Monday:Closed
Tues - Fri:10:00am - 5:00pm
Sat - Sun:Closed
Our Store
  • About Us
  • IJO Master Jeweler
  • Create a Wish List
  • Meet our staff
  • ADA Compliance
Education
  • Jewelry Education
  • The Four Cs of Diamonds
  • Diamond Buying Tips
  • Choosing the Ring
  • Birthstone Guide
  • Gemstone Guide
  • Precious Metals
  • Caring for Fine Jewelry
  • Diamond Cleaning
  • Gemstone Cleaning
  • Anniversary Guide
  • Gold Buying Guide
Address
Smith Jewelers
105 Second Avenue
Franklin, VA 23851
(757) 562-3175
Store Information
Subscribe

Sign up for special offers and discounts

Follow Us

© 2025 Smith Jewelers. All Rights Reserved. Website designed, maintained, and hosted by Punchmark. Accessibility Statement.

Learn how we use cookies in our Privacy Policy or manage cookie preferences.