Diamond Education
The 4 Cs of Diamonds
Everything you need to know to choose a diamond that reflects your unique style, personality, and budget.
At Melia Nae Jewellers, we believe in helping you choose the perfect diamond. The 4 Cs — Cut, Clarity, Colour, and Carat — are the key factors that determine a diamond's beauty, brilliance, and value.
The Sparkle Factor
Cut
The most important of the 4 Cs
The cut of a diamond is the most crucial aspect when it comes to its sparkle. It refers to how well a diamond's facets are shaped and aligned. A well-cut diamond reflects light beautifully, creating stunning brilliance.
Cut Grades
Prioritise cut over carat size. A smaller diamond with an excellent cut will shine brighter than a larger one with a poor cut.
Flawlessness You Can See
Clarity
The fewer inclusions, the more it shines
Clarity measures the presence of internal imperfections, or inclusions. While tiny inclusions are common, diamonds with fewer or no visible inclusions are more valuable. The clearer the diamond, the more it will shine.
Clarity Grades
For the best value, choose diamonds with clarity grades of VS1 or higher — they look flawless to the naked eye without the FL price tag.
Pure or Warm
Colour
D (colourless) to Z (light yellow)
Diamonds are graded on a scale from D (colourless) to Z (light yellow or brown). The more colourless a diamond, the higher its value. However, slight warmth can be less noticeable in certain settings.
Colour Grades
For the purest white diamond, go for D–F grades, especially when set in white metal like platinum or white gold.
Size & Weight
Carat
Bigger isn't always better
Carat measures the weight of a diamond, not its size. Larger diamonds are rarer and more expensive, but the right cut can make a smaller diamond appear larger. Remember — cut, clarity, and colour matter just as much.
Carat Guide
A diamond just shy of your target carat (like 0.95 CT instead of 1 CT) can offer significant savings with little visible difference.
Ready to Find Your Perfect Diamond?
When choosing your diamond, each of the 4 Cs plays a role in its beauty and value. Our experts at Melia Nae are here to guide you through every step of the journey.