You’ve found the right person, now it’s time to find the perfect ring.

Purchasing a diamond for the first time can sometimes be overwhelming.

Our Gemologists are here to walk you through the diamond buying experience.

Below is a consumer friendly guide to the 4C’s, Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat weight.

4C’s Explained: Cut, Color, Clarity & Carat

Diamond Cut

Diamond “cut” is often confused with a diamond’s “shape,” such as round, marquise, oval, pear or princess cut. The true definition of a diamond’s cut, however, is based on a diamond’s proportions and angles. The closer the diamond is to a truly ideal cut, the more brilliance the diamond will have. By definition, an ideal cut diamond allows light to enter through the top, bounce off the bottom facets, and reflect back up with 'fire' and brilliancy that is unmatched. At Van Sipma Jewelers, we believe the cut of a diamond is the most important factor to consider if you want your diamond to shine with a rainbow of colors.

Diamond Clarity

As a diamond crystalizes deep in the earth under extreme heat and pressure, other elements often become trapped inside the stone, which are called inclusions. Inclusions are like a fingerprint for your diamond, and since no two fingerprints are the same, inclusions create a unique way to identify individual diamonds. When grading a diamond we use a 10x binocular microscope and determine a clarity grade based on the number of inclusions, as well as their size, color and location inside the stone. Diamond Clarity ranges from Flawless (F) and Internally Flawless (IF) where the diamond has no inclusions. All the way to Included (I1-I2,I-3), where the inclusions are obvious and may even affect the diamond’s durability.

Diamond Color

Color refers to the internal body color of a diamond ranging from colorless to yellow or light brown. Most diamonds will have some body color. However, the closer to colorless, the more rare and expensive the diamond will be. Sometimes diamonds are found in a spectrum of 'fancy' colors including intense yellows, blues, pinks and even reds. 'Fancy' colored diamonds are very rare and are often much more expensive than a colorless diamond.

Diamond Carat Weight

Carat weight refers to the physical weight of a diamond, not necessarily the size or diameter. Carat weight is broken down into “points” where 100 points = 1 carat, 50 points = 1/2 ct, 25 points = 1/4 ct. and so on. While carat weight is important, it has no effect on the overall beauty of the diamond. Only the cut, color and clarity of a diamond will affect the appearance. Our GIA Gradate Gemologists are here to help you choose the best combination of diamond characteristics and size to fit your budget.