Buying Guide

Diamond Cuts, Clarity, Color, and Size Guide

Use this page as a quick reference when comparing stones for engagement rings, earrings, and custom jewelry.

Diamond grading tools and loose diamond for 4Cs reference

The 4Cs At a Glance

Cut: How well a diamond reflects light (sparkle and fire).
Color: From colorless to light yellow/brown, typically graded D to Z.
Clarity: Visibility of inclusions and blemishes, from FL to I3.
Carat: The diamond's weight, often linked with perceived size.

Diamond shape chart showing round brilliant, oval, pear, princess, cushion, emerald, marquise, radiant, asscher, and heart

Popular Cut Shapes

Round Brilliant: Maximum sparkle, classic choice.
Oval: Elegant and elongating on the finger.
Pear: Teardrop silhouette with a modern edge.
Princess: Square shape with strong brilliance.
Emerald: Step-cut facets, clean and sophisticated.
Cushion: Soft corners, vintage-inspired glow.

Near colorless diamond in white metal setting for color grading

Color Guide (D-Z)

D-F are colorless, G-J are near-colorless, and K-M show faint warm tones. In yellow or rose-gold settings, near-colorless grades can still appear bright while offering better value.

Macro close-up of a diamond surface showing clarity details

Clarity Guide

FL/IF are extremely rare. VVS and VS grades typically have inclusions difficult to spot without magnification. SI stones can be excellent value when eye-clean.

Quick Comparison Matrix

Factor	What to Prioritize	Tip
Cut Quality	Excellent / Very Good	Best impact on sparkle and light return.
Color	D-H for white-metal settings	G-H often looks colorless in most lighting.
Clarity	VS1-SI1 (eye-clean target)	Use loupe checks and natural-light viewing.
Carat / Size	Based on finger size and style	Halo and elongated cuts can look larger.