A plain-language guide to the four Cs of diamonds
Cut decides how much a diamond sparkles, and it is the one C you should not compromise on. A well cut stone looks brighter and larger than a heavier one that is cut poorly.
Colour is graded from D (colourless) to Z. Once a diamond is set in yellow or rose gold, the difference between neighbouring grades is very hard to see, so there is little reason to pay for the very top of the scale.
Clarity describes natural inclusions. Many stones graded VS or SI look clean to the naked eye, so look for an eye-clean stone rather than chasing a flawless grade.
Carat is weight, not size. A set of two 0.25 carat diamonds is often a better value than a single 0.50 carat stone when you want presence on a budget.