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Beginners Guide to Diamonds

  • Jago Jewellers
  • 2 hours ago
  • 2 min read

Diamonds are one of the most admired gemstones in the world, prized for their sparkle, strength, and timeless beauty. If you’re new to diamonds, the world of cuts, colours, clarity, and carat can feel a little overwhelming. This guide will help you understand the basics in a simple way.


The Four Cs of Diamonds

Understanding the Four Cs is key when choosing a diamond: Colour, Clarity, Cut, and Carat. These qualities together determine a diamond’s beauty and value.


Colour

Diamonds range from completely colourless to slight yellow or brown tints. Colour is graded on a scale from D to Z:

  • D-F: Colourless. Rare and highly prized.

  • G-H: Near colourless. Slight colour is visible only when compared with higher grades. Great value and common in fine jewellery.

  • I-J: Slightly tinted. Colour is noticeable but still attractive.

  • K-Z: More noticeable colour. Usually less expensive and not commonly used in high-end jewellery.

two diamonds comparing the diamond colour scale













Clarity

Clarity refers to how free a diamond is from natural imperfections, known as inclusions:

  • FL/IF: Flawless. No inclusions visible under 10x magnification.

  • VVS1/VVS2: Very, very slightly included. Inclusions are extremely hard to see.

  • VS1/VS2: Very slightly included. Inclusions are minor and difficult to spot.

  • SI1/SI2: Slightly included. Inclusions may be visible under magnification but rarely affect appearance.

  • I: Inclusions visible without magnification. Usually less expensive.


a diagram showing the diamond clarity scale.






Cut

The cut of a diamond affects how it reflects light and sparkles. A well-cut diamond will appear brighter and more lively, while a poorly cut diamond may look dull even if it has excellent colour and clarity. Cut grades range from Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, to Poor, with Excellent being the most brilliant.


A selection of differently cut diamonds












Carat

Carat measures the weight of a diamond. Larger diamonds are rarer and more expensive, but carat alone doesn’t determine beauty. A slightly smaller diamond with better cut, colour, and clarity can appear more dazzling than a larger diamond with lower quality in other areas.

A diagram showing the varying carat of diamonds










Our diamond guide will help you understand the Four Cs giving you confidence when choosing a diamond. With a little care, diamonds can remain beautiful and sparkling for a lifetime.


Caring for Your Diamond Guide

We recommend having your diamonds checked and professionally cleaned at least once a year. At home, gently clean your diamond with warm water, mild soap, and a soft toothbrush. When storing your diamond jewellery, keep each piece separate in a soft pouch or compartment to prevent scratches on any other pieces, such as softer gemstones like emeralds, opals or pearls, as well as metals.

Diamonds can withstand everyday wear, but avoid hard knocks, rough work, or exposure to harsh chemicals to protect them for the long term.




 
 
 

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