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The 4Cs of Diamonds — Cut, Colour, Clarity, Carat Explained

Buying Guide

The 4Cs of Diamonds — Cut, Colour, Clarity, Carat Explained

EXOTIC DIAMONDS Editorial6 min read

Every diamond is graded on four parameters — the 4Cs. Understanding them helps you make a smarter purchase.

1. Cut — The Most Important C

Cut determines how a diamond catches and reflects light. A poorly cut diamond looks dull no matter how flawless. Grades: Excellent · Very Good · Good · Fair · Poor. At EXOTIC DIAMONDS, we exclusively use Excellent and Very Good cuts.

2. Colour

Graded D (colourless) to Z (light yellow). Diamonds D–F are colourless, G–J are near-colourless and offer the best value-to-appearance ratio. Most of our lab-grown stones are D–G.

3. Clarity

Measures internal inclusions and surface blemishes:

  • FL / IF — Flawless / Internally Flawless
  • VVS1 / VVS2 — Very Very Slight Inclusions (our preferred grade)
  • VS1 / VS2 — Very Slight Inclusions (eye-clean, excellent value)
  • SI1 / SI2 — Slight Inclusions (may be visible)

4. Carat

Carat is weight, not size. 1ct = 200mg. A 1ct round brilliant is ~6.5mm wide. With lab-grown diamonds, you can comfortably step up a carat or two within the same budget — which is where the real value lives.

Our Recommended Sweet Spot

For maximum sparkle per rupee, look for: Excellent Cut · F–G Colour · VS1–VS2 Clarity. Save on the others, splurge on the cut.

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