If you're on the hunt to buy diamond jewellery online, you must have gone through numerous articles and guides describing the 4’Cs of diamond. But In this blog, we're gonna walk a mile extra and cover the 8 Cs of Diamond! 

Interesting isn't it? Come, let's checkbox them all with Angara…

The 8’Cs of Diamond 

First things first - talking about the cut, colour, carat and clarity of diamond is very crucial to make your shopping experience worthwhile. So without further ado, let's revise the first set of Cs. Here we go! 

Cut 

A diamond's beauty isn't just about its inherent sparkle; it's heavily influenced by its cut. Diamonds are renowned for their ability to interact with light, but not all cuts are created equal. A well-cut diamond maximises light return, creating the brilliance, fire, and scintillation we associate with these precious stones. While the round brilliant cut is the king of sparkle (thanks to its 57 magical facets!), there are other cuts like princess, emerald, and cushion that offer a unique kind of dazzling personality. Remember, a well-cut diamond, even if it's a bit smaller, will outshine a poorly cut diamond any day!

Colour 

Diamonds aren't always colourless, surprise! They can come in a rainbow of hues, from the subtle blush of pink to a mesmerising emerald green. Most people associate diamonds with the classic colourless sparkle. However, diamonds can exhibit a surprising range of colours, from subtle hints of yellow or brown to vibrant shades of pink, blue, green, and even red. However, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has established a standardized colour scale for colourless and near-colourless diamonds, ranging from D (colourless) to Z (light yellow or brown). 

• D-F colourless
• G-J Near colourless
• K-M Faint Yellow
• N-Z Light Yellow or Brown
  
  

Carat

The diamond carat plays a crucial role in determining a diamond's size, price, and overall value. Contrary to popular belief, carat (often abbreviated as "ct") refers to the weight of a diamond, not its size. Standardised by the International Gemological Institute (IGI) in 1913, one carat is equal to 200 milligrams. For even finer measurements, carats are further divided into 100 points, allowing for precise evaluation. So, a 0.75 carat diamond would also be referred to as a 75-point diamond. Carat weight is a significant factor in a diamond's price. Generally, larger carat diamonds are rarer and more expensive. And also note, a round brilliant cut diamond tends to appear larger than a fancy shaped diamond (like princess or emerald cut) of the same carat weight due to its light performance and facet arrangement.

Tip: When shopping for diamonds, prioritise cut over carat weight. A well-cut diamond, even with a slightly lower carat weight, will deliver superior brilliance and fire, making it a more worthwhile investment.

Clarity 

Diamonds are formed under extreme pressure and heat deep within the earth.  This incredible journey can sometimes leave behind tiny internal markings called inclusions and external blemishes. These are natural characteristics, and their presence, size, location, and nature all influence a diamond's clarity grade.

• Inclusions: Internal imperfections like crystals, clouds, or feathers trapped within the diamond.
• Blemishes: External surface markings like scratches, nicks, or pits that may appear on the diamond's surface.
  
  

This scale ranges from Flawless (FL), indicating the absence of any visible inclusions or blemishes under 10x magnification, to Included (I1, I2, I3), where inclusions are noticeable even to the naked eye. Here's the elaboration: 

• Flawless (FL) & Internally Flawless (IF)
• Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1 & VVS2)
• Very Slightly Included (VS1 & VS2)
• Slightly Included (SI1 & SI2)
• Included (I1, I2, I3)
  
  

Tip: if you wish to bag a higher scale on your diamond clarity while tight on budget - opt for lab-grown diamond jewellery. Since these diamonds are lab-created, the chances of being included is negligible. Hence, there's a high chance to bag a flawless diamond everytime, plus they are eco-friendly! Read more about lab-grown diamonds here.

Now comes the second and most contemporary addition to your diamond shopping considerations— 

1. Cost 
2. Conscience 
3. Certificate 
4. Customisation 

These points have emerged as solutions to modern problems. 

Cost

Centuries back, diamonds were crown jewels. But today, diamond rings for engagement’ is one of the most searched keywords on the internet. With inflation, popularity and rarity, diamond prices have hiked up and today, the price of one carat diamond in India is approximately 50k, and can range upto 3 lakhs depending on the diamond quality. Therefore, budget consideration comes into the picture. But then, ‘need is the mother of invention’ and today we have the privilege to consider alternatives like lab-grown diamonds, which offer similar brilliance and fire at a more affordable price point. Lab-grown diamonds cost 40-60% less than a mined diamond of the same quality! However, like natural diamonds, the price of these diamonds depends on: 

• The combination of the 4’Cs (cut, colour, carat and clarity)
• Lab-testing Certificates
• Retailer Markup
• Tax and GST  
  
  

Conscience

Although a sign of love, the journey of a natural diamond— from a rough stone deep within the earth to a sparkling gem on your finger can be shrouded in ethical complexities due to: 

• Lack of Transparency: Tracing the origin of a mined diamond throughout the complex supply chain can be challenging, creating a risk of unknowingly supporting unethical practices.
  
  
• Human Rights Abuses: Reports of unsafe working conditions, child labor, and violence in some diamond mines continue to surface.
  
  

And beyond the human cost, there's habitat destruction, soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, water pollution etc. All of these pose long-term environmental threats and leave a significant environmental footprint. 

Although international efforts have been made to curb the trade in conflict diamonds through initiatives like the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, ethical concerns surrounding mined diamonds still persist. But the good news is-the new generation can choose conflict-free, sustainable, and more affordable sparkles of better quality with the lab-grown options. It's time to get eco-conscious and make a choice that's guilt free and comes with peace of mind. 

Certificate 

With so many ‘diamond likes’ floating in the market, you can easily be duped. Hence, a diamond grading report from a reputable gemological institute like the GIA ensures authenticity and provides valuable information about the 4Cs. Lab grown diamond certifications are also readily available from the same institutions. While certified diamonds might cost slightly more, the peace of mind and resale value are often worth it. Popular lab-testing certificates includes institutions like: 

• IGI  (International Gemological Institute, Mumbai)
• SGL ( Solitaire Gemmological Laboratories, West Bengal) 
• GIA  (Gemological Institute of America, Mumbai)
• G.I.I (Gemmological Institute Of India, Mumbai)
  
  

Customisation

With so many designs and options online, our individuality still seeks something more intimate and personality. Customisation in Jewellery extends beyond the engravings and choice of gemstones only. With Angara, you get even custom made diamonds of various shapes, sizes, colours and beyond in both natural and lab-grown options. You can also select the metal type, stone settings, and more!  

Usually customisation adds to the overall price of your jewellery, but with Angara, you're guided with the best alternatives as per your requirements to let you save bigger! 

Hence, it's time to contact our jewellery experts and find the best diamond pieces that checkbox all the 8 criteria. 

Happy Shopping! 

FAQs

1. What is the highest quality diamond?
The highest quality diamond is one with a Flawless (FL) clarity grade. These are extremely rare, with no internal or external imperfections, even under intense magnification.

2. What is the unique feature of diamond?
The most important feature of diamond is the way it reflects light, resulting in sparkle, fire and brilliance. 

3. Which property of diamond is most important?
The cut of a diamond has the greatest impact on its brilliance, fire, and scintillation - the properties that make a diamond sparkle.