When it comes to diamonds, many people think of the stones' size or carat-number as the most important measure. However, that is not the case: Other than the carat measure, which provides information on the diamond's weight and hence stands in relation to its size, there are 3 other main factors determining the quality of a diamond.

The price of a diamond is mainly affected by the 4Cs:

• Carat weight
• Color
• Clarity
• Cut

The higher the quality, the higher the price. Finding a stone that fits your budget means getting the right trade-off between the 4 determinants.

It is not common to find diamonds that have exactly the same price because every stone is absolutely unique. The “cut” grade, for example, is divided into three distinct subgroups:

• Polish
• Symmetry
• Overall cut grade (that does not count for fancy-shapes, meaning all shapes except round)

Even if the weight, the clarity, and the color are the same, it is unlikely that the cut grades, ranging from “poor” to “excellent”, are equal as well. Therefore, most diamonds have slightly different prices, even if they appear the same at first sight.

We recommend staying above the cut grade “good” for optimal brilliance!

Furthermore, fluorescence affects price. GIA certificates include information on this type of blue light that the stones display when exposed to ultraviolet radiation. The less fluorescence a diamond exhibits, the better – and expensive. The intensity according to GIA ranges from “very strong” to “none”. We recommend staying below “medium”.

Below, you can see some example images of diamonds with nearly the same carat weight, but strongly differing prices. When comparing diamond prices, always pay attention to the 4C!

More on:

• Finding the right trade-off between the 4Cs
• Setting a budget
• The GIA Certificate
• The 4C
• Carat
• Cut
• Color
• Clarity

Use your new knowledge and create your very own, personalized diamond ring with a diamond of your choice at MyDiamondRing.com!