When you read about diamonds, the term ‘four Cs’ is often in the text. What exactly is the meaning of this term and where does it stand for ? They stand for : Cut, Clarity, Colour & Carat weight.
It are these criteria that jewellers use when they give gradings to diamonds. They are also the criteria that you have to understand when looking for a diamond that will suit you. And then often a “fifth C” pops up : Certificates.

The shining brilliance of diamonds. You may have wondered how that light can come from deep in the heart of a diamond. That is a result of the ‘diamond cut’. Diamond cut is perhaps the most important of the four Cs, so it is important to understand how this quality affects the properties and values of a diamond. A good cut gives a diamond its brilliance. The angles and finish of any diamond are what determine its ability to handle (reflect) light, which leads to brilliance. So The quality of the “cut” does make a difference in how a diamond looks.

Diamond’s clarity is referring to the presence of identifying characteristics on and within the stone, most of which are inherent qualities of the rough diamond and have been present since the earliest stages of the crystal’s growth below ground. A few are actually the result of the harsh stress that a diamond undergoes during the cutting process itself.

A diamond’s colour is usually referring to the presence or absence of colour in white diamonds. Colour is a result of the composition of the diamond, and it never changes over time.
Because a colourless diamond allows more light to pass through it than a coloured diamond, colourless diamonds emit more sparkle and fire. The formation process of a diamond ensures that only a few, rare diamonds are truly colourless. Thus the whiter a diamond’s colour, the greater its value.

A carat is a unit of measurement, it’s the unit used to weigh a diamond. One carat is equal to 200 milligrams, or 0.2 grams. The word “carat” is taken from the carob seeds that people once used in ancient times to balance scales. So uniform in shape and weight are these little seeds that even today’s sophisticated instruments cannot detect more than three one-thousandths of a difference between them. 

A certificate is a “blueprint” of a diamond, it tells you the diamond’s exact measurements and weight, as well as the details of its cut and quality. It precisely points out all the individual characteristics of the stone. Certificates also serve as proof of the diamond’s identity and value. A certificate is not the same thing as an appraisal. A certificate describes the quality of a diamond, but it does not place a monetary value on the gem. An appraisal places a monetary value on your diamond, but does not certify the quality of the diamond.