Learn Diamonds
​Diamond Quality - The 4C's - Color, Clarity, Cut, and Carat.​
Color
A regular diamond’s color grade is actually based on the lack of color.
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With regular (non-fancy) diamonds, the color grading scale ranges from D-to-Z. D being completely colorless, progressively showing color throughout the alphabet range, A diamond in the normal color range is graded by how colorless the stone is. Fancy-colored diamonds also exist. They're graded based on how colorful they are. They can gain their color through natural or laboratory means. Due to their extreme rarity, only purchase a fancy-colored diamond with a laser inscription and accompanying report from a reputable gemology laboratory. The grading process for these stones is extremely complex and must only be completed at a specialized lab.
Clarity
The lack of inclusions and blemishes.
The GIA Diamond Clarity Scale has 6 categories, some of which are divided, totaling 11 specific grades. Every diamond has internal characteristics ("inclusions") and external characteristics ("blemishes") formed by trapped crystals, pressure, and stress during growth. Clarity grading requires examination under 10x magnification using a loupe, a GIA industry standard. Many inclusions/blemishes invisible to the naked eye become visible at this scale. Flawless (FL): No inclusions and no blemishes visible under 10x magnification. Internally Flawless (IF): No inclusions visible under 10x magnification. Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1 and VVS2): Inclusions so slight they are difficult for a skilled grader to see under 10x magnification. Very Slightly Included (VS1 and VS2): Inclusions are observed with effort under 10x magnification, but can be characterized as minor. Slightly Included (SI1 and SI2): Inclusions are noticeable under 10x magnification. Included (I1, I2, and I3): Inclusions are obvious under 10x magnification which may affect transparency and brilliance. Many inclusions and blemishes are too small to be seen by anyone other than a trained diamond grader or with laboratory equipment such as a microscope. Even then, some inclusions have been mistaken for dust particles. To a naked, untrained eye, a VS1 and an SI1 diamond may look exactly the same, but these diamonds are quite different in terms of overall quality and value.
Cut
A diamond's cut makes or breaks the brightness, scintillation, and fire.
Diamonds are well known for their ability to transmit light and sparkle intensely. Their brilliance is what sets them apart from all other gemstones. It's what makes us all adore them as much as we do. Cut does not equal shape. It's the proportions, symmetry, and polish. A diamond’s cut is a critical component in its final beauty and therefore its value. Out of the 4C’s discussed on this page, cut is by far the most difficult to make an accurate technical analysis. The following attributes allow diamond graders to evaluate how successfully a diamond interacts with light to create the pristine beauty that diamonds are known for. Brightness: Internal and external white light reflected from a diamond Scintillation: The amount of sparkle a diamond produces and the pattern of light and dark areas caused by reflections within the diamond. Fire: The scattering of white light into all the colors of the rainbow The grading laboratory’s diamond cut grade also takes into account the design and craftsmanship of the diamond, such as its weight relative to its diameter, girdle thickness, symmetry of its facet arrangement, and the quality of polish on those facets. The GIA diamond cut scale for standard round brilliant diamonds in the D-to-Z diamond color range contains 5 grades. The ranges consist in order of excellent, very good, good, fair, poor. For fancy-shaped diamonds grades of symmetry and polish will be given instead.
Carat (weight)
Diamond carat is the measurement of how much a diamond weighs.
A metric "carat" equals 200 milligrams. Each carat can be subdivided into 100 'points.' This allows very precise measurements. A diamond weighing 0.25, 0.50, or 0.75 carats are usually described as a "quarter," "half," and "three-quarter" carats, respectively. Outside of these quarters, diamonds are referred to by their points. For example, a diamond weighing 0.63 carats is referred to as a "sixty three pointer." ​It's important to remember that two diamonds of equal carat weight can have very different values depending on other factors of the diamond 4C's: Clarity, Color and Cut.
**Not actual size.**
Fluorescence
25% – 35% of diamonds emit visible light when exposed to UV rays; this is referred to as fluorescence.
For many people, the presence of fluorescence doesn’t majorly affect the value of a diamond as much as other factors do – so the preference to buy a diamond with(out) fluorescence is a purely personal one. In some instances, a diamond that has medium to strong fluorescence can improve the appearance of a slightly yellow colored diamond, as the most common visible color emitted from fluorescence is blue, which negates some of the visible yellow, making it look more white or colorless because blue and yellow are color opposites and tend to cancel each other out. A small percentage (around 5-10%) of diamonds with fluorescence emit colors other than blue including yellow or green. A diamond that fluoresces has the same integrity as one with no reaction to UV – there is no weakness or structural defect caused by this characteristic. Each GIA report will measure the color and strength of the diamond’s reaction to UV, The strength is described between Very Strong to None on a report.
Polish
GIA will grade a diamond's polish from Excellent to Poor.
Although diamonds are the hardest natural material known, they still have different degrees of hardness in different directions, which make them difficult to cut. As the machinery cuts through the rough diamond, it leaves polishing lines as a result of the resistance. These polishing lines are then removed by craftsmen who polish the diamond on a wheel. Because the hardness of the diamond varies with direction, the polishing of each facet requires changing the direction each time. Although the goal is to remove all of the polish lines, it is absolutely vital to be careful to not to over polish the stone as the surface can easily get burnt and leave a 'lizard skin' pattern on the surface, making the stone either useless, or requiring it to be re-cut entirely. The craftsmen use experience, patience, and persistence to strike the perfect balance with the goal of achieving a flawless surface on each facet whilst stopping any burn or damage. Any polish marks left on the stone will refract the light, causing a reduction in brilliance and sparkle. If the polishing lines are numerous, they can make the diamond look less transparent and affect its sharpness.
Symmetry
GIA reports will grade each diamond's symmetry on a scale from Excellent to Poor.
Symmetry refers to the alignment of all facets on a diamond. How well the bottom facets connect with the top facets. Also, how well the facets on the right side mirror the facets of the left side (depending on the shape of the diamond). This arrangement directly relates to how each section of a diamond reflects light, ultimately the brilliance of the complete stone. Better symmetry reflects light uniformly without any black patches and produces maximum sparkle. ​ A diamond cut with perfect symmetry will have relative facets cut in a way to display the same width, length, sharpness, angles at intersections, and even the height will be uniform throughout so that no matter which angle the stone is looked at it will sparkle and dance exceptionally.
Natural Vs Lab-Grown Diamonds
Same properties, different origins.
Mined vs. Lab-Grown Diamonds: A Balanced Overview Lab-grown and mined diamonds share the same fundamental qualities—they are both pure carbon crystals with identical chemical, physical, and optical properties, displaying exceptional hardness and brilliance. This makes them virtually indistinguishable to the naked eye and equally stunning in jewelry. Natural Diamonds: Natural diamonds are formed deep within the Earth over millions of years, carrying a unique geological history and symbolic rarity prized by many buyers. This natural origin grants them emotional and cultural significance difficult to replicate. They often feature characteristic inclusions and growth patterns that authenticate their identity and appeal to collectors. Natural diamonds have sustained their value over time and have a well-established market and resale infrastructure. On the downside, larger, high-quality natural diamonds are increasingly rare and command premium prices, which may limit accessibility for some buyers. Lab-Grown Diamonds: Created using advanced technologies like High-Pressure High-Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), lab-grown diamonds offer several advantages. They typically cost less than natural diamonds of similar size and quality, making them a more accessible option. Their production has a smaller environmental footprint and avoids some social concerns associated with mining. Modern lab-grown diamonds are available in large sizes with excellent clarity and color, and continuous technological improvements have stabilized their quality. However, lab-grown diamonds represent a smaller portion of the market, and despite their identical composition, some buyers perceive them as less emotionally resonant due to their synthetic origin. Identification requires sophisticated lab testing, and certain treatments during production may limit some natural inclusions that collectors appreciate. Ultimately, choosing between lab-grown and natural diamonds depends on what you value most—whether it’s budget and sustainability or tradition and natural rarity. Both offer remarkable beauty and craftsmanship when selected thoughtfully, and at Height’s Fine Jewelry, we support you in finding the diamond that resonates with your story and values.