Skip to main content
Save 15% off your 1st online order - REGISTER NOW
  • 24/7 Customer Service Make an Appointment Fast Free Shipping Lifetime Diamond Upgrade Financing
  • 516.766.2614
  • Visit Our Long Island, NY Showroom
  • Financing
  • Login
  • Wish List
  • My Bag (0)
SVS Fine Jewelry Logo
(0)
  • Diamonds & Engagement
    Engagement Rings
    Ready to Ship Engagement RingsShop all Engagement RingsLooking for Something Custom?
    Shop by Designer
    Fana BridalDe Beers ForevermarkGabriel & CoNoam CarverSimon GSylvieVerragio
    Wedding Bands
    Ladies Wedding BandsMen’s Wedding Bands
    Loose Stones
    Start With a DiamondStart With a Lab-Created DiamondStart With a MoissaniteDiamond Price Match Guarantee
    Financing
    Financing Options

    Explore All Diamonds & Engagement
  • Wedding Bands
    All Ladies Wedding Bands
    All Ladies Wedding Bands
    All Men's Wedding Bands
    All Men's Wedding Bands
    Shop by Women's Designer
    Fana BridalDe Beers ForevermarkGabriel & CoNoam CarverVerragioSimon GTrue Romance
    Shop by Men's Designer
    Simon GVerragioCrown RingElysiumBleu RoyaleGabriel & Co

    Explore All Wedding Bands
  • Wedding Bands
    All Ladies Wedding Bands
    All Men's Wedding Bands
    Shop by Women's Designer
    Fana BridalForevermarkGabriel & CoValinaSimon GSylvieTrue Romance
    Shop by Men's Designer
    Simon GVerragioCrown RingElysiumBleu RoyaleGabriel & Co

    Explore All Wedding Bands
  • Jewelry
    Rings
    Diamond Fashion RingsEngagement RingsGemstone RingsDiamond Wedding/Anniversary BandsStackable RingsSilver Rings
    Earrings
    Diamond EarringsGemstone EarringsFashion EarringsStud EarringsHoop EarringsGold EarringsSilver EarringsPearl EarringsKids Earrings
    Bracelets
    Diamond BraceletsGemstone BraceletsBanglesFashion BraceletsGold BraceletSilver BraceletsPearl BraceletsAnkletKids Bracelets
    Necklaces
    Diamond NecklacesGemstone NecklacesFashion NecklacesGold NecklacesSilver NecklacesPendants/CharmsLocketsChainsReligious NecklacesKids Necklaces
    Men’s Jewelry
    Men's BraceletsMen's NecklacesCuff LinksMoney ClipsTie ClipsMen's Wedding BandsMen's Fashion Rings

    Explore All Jewelry
  • Designers
    Alex Woo JewelryALOR Fine JewelryBlackjack Men's JewelryBleu Royale Wedding BandsCrown Ring Wedding BandsDe Beers Forevermark
    Dee BerkleyElla SteinFanaFreida RothmanGabriel & CoGrand Bands
    John HardyKendra ScottKiddie Kraft Kids JewelryLafonnLightbox Lab Grown DiamondsNoam Carver
    Officina BernardiPandoraRoman + JulesShy CreationSimon GSVS Personalized Collection
    SylvieThe SVS Signature Diamond CollectionTrue RomanceVerragio

    Designers
  • Watches
    Watch Brands
    G-ShockMichele WatchMovado
    Shop By Gender
    Men’s WatchesLadies Watches
    Services
    Watch Repair ServicesWatch Bands
    Men’s Watches
    Men’s Watches
    Ladies Watches
    Ladies Watches

    Explore All Watches
  • Gifts
    Gift Cards
    Gift Cards
    Handbags
    Handbags
    Personalized Jewelry
    Personalized Jewelry

    Explore All Gifts
  • Sale
  • About Us
    About US
    Our StoryMeet Our StaffAwardsReviews
    Services
    Our List of ServicesBuying ServicesSubmit Your Repair
    Stay Connected
    Events CalendarThe SVS Fine Jewelry BlogSocial Media
    Why Buy at SVS?
    Return & ExchangesDiamond Price Match GuaranteeSpecial FinancingLifetime Diamond UpgradeLifetime Nationwide WarrantyMilitary & First Responder Discounts

    Explore All About Us
    •  (0)
    Location
    My Cart (0)
    Checkout
    Log In
    Call Us
    Shop By
    • Engagement Rings
    • Rings
    • Earrings
    • Bracelets
    • Necklaces
    • Men's Jewelry
    • Watches
    • Gifts
    • Moissanite
    • Bridal Sets
    1. Home
    2. Education
    3. Diamonds

    Learn About Diamonds

    The Four Cs of Diamonds

    Our Four C's of Diamonds guide can help you decide on the most important factors when shopping for a diamond.

    • Carat
    • Cut
    • Color
    • Clarity

    The Carat Weight

    The word carat derives from the word carob, a Mediterranean seed, which has an extremely consistent weight for measuring. The greater the carat weight, the rarer, and more valuable the diamond becomes. Five metric carats weighs exactly 1 gram.

    Some people want the largest diamond possible. If size is a priority, we at SVS Fine Jewelry can help you classify the proper cut, color and clarity to fit your budget economically, and fit your jewelry beautifully. Many of our engagement rings can fit diamonds up to 5.00 carats, but each ring has different size constraints based on its size and the type of setting. Prong settings can be manipulated to fit virtually any size diamond, but tension-set diamonds and bezel set diamonds have more limitations on size.

    The Cut

    The true definition of cut is the quality of the proportions and symmetry of the diamond. Your diamond's proportions make a vast difference on how brightly your diamond shines. An 'ideal cut' diamond is one that allows the maximum amount of light to return through the top of the diamond, which takes into consideration the depth, table size, crown height and angle, girdle thickness and more. Our diamond professionals will be happy to assist you in selecting the best diamond cut.

    After a rough diamond is mined, it is evaluated to determine its best possible cut, in order to maintain the maximum clarity, color, and carat weight. The term 'cut' is often confused with diamond 'shape', such as round brilliant or princess cut.

    Excellent

    This is the rarest cut grade and reflects the most light.

    Very Good

    This cut grade reflects nearly as much light as an Excellent cut grade, but for a lower price.

    Good

    This cut grade reflects most of the light that enters the diamond, but not as much as a Very Good cut grade.

    Fair

    This cut grade may appear dull or even glassy, and is very inexpensive.

    Poor

    This cut grade is not carried by SVS Fine Jewelry and is typically not recommended.

    Excellent
    Very Good
    Good
    Fair
    Poor
    Not carried by SVS Fine Jewelry

    MORE DIAMONDS

    The Color

    Color is one of the more noticeable attributes of a diamond and has a heavy impact on the price of the stone. Diamonds range from colorless to yellow or light brown, and are sometimes found in a spectrum of fancy colors, including yellow, blue, and even red diamonds. The less color, the rarer the diamond. After 'Z' on the color scale, diamonds become fancy yellow, which cost more because of their rarity.

    Z-N
    M-K
    Noticeable Color
    J
    I
    H
    G
    Near Colorless
    F
    E
    D
    Colorless
    Z-N
    M-K
    J
    I
    H
    G
    F
    E
    D
    Noticeable Color
    Near Colorless
    Colorless

    The Clarity

    Diamonds are composed of mostly carbon. During the heating process, other elements become trapped inside, giving each diamond its own unique fingerprint. These inclusions help identify the clarity of your diamond. All diamonds are viewed through a 10x magnification lens by diamond graders.

    Flawless

    No inclusions or blemishes are visible to a skilled grader.

    Internally Flawless

    No inclusions and only blemishes are visible to a skilled grader.

    Very Very Slightly Included

    Inclusions are difficult for a skilled grader to see.

    Very Slightly Included

    Inclusions are clearly visible but can be characterized as minor.

    Slightly Included

    Inclusions are noticeable to a skilled grader.

    Included

    Inclusions are obvious and may affect transparency and brilliance.

    FFlawless
    IFInternally Flawless
    VVS1
    VVS2
    Very Very Slightly Included
    VS1
    VS2
    Very Slightly Included
    SI1
    SI2
    Slightly Included
    I1
    I2
    I3
    Included

    MORE DIAMONDS

    Shop Loose Diamonds

    Get the inside scoop on sales, specials and upcoming events!
    SVS Fine Jewelry

    Visit Us In Real Life

    Contact Us Meet Our Team
    3323 Long Beach Road
    Oceanside, NY 11572

    Visit Us

    Contact Us

    Phone Call Us 516.766.2614 Text Text Us 516.346.5355 Email Email Us
    • Shop Jewelry
    • Diamonds & Engagement
    • Create a Ring Online
    • Search Diamonds
    • All Jewelry
    • Watches
    • Jewelry Sales
    • Gift Ideas
    • Our Designers
    • Store Services
    • Shop Loose Diamonds
    • Custom Engagement Ring Design
    • Buying & Selling Gold
    • Jewelry & Watch Repair
    • Why SVS?
    • About SVS Fine Jewelry
    • Reviews & Testimonials
    • Financing
    • Lifetime Warranty
    • Lifetime Upgrade
    • Awards
    • Education
    • The Four Cs of Diamonds
    • De Beers Forevermark Diamonds
    • The SVS Signature Diamond
    • What are Lab Grown Diamonds?
    • GIA Diamonds
    • Choosing The Ring
    • Gemstone Guide
    • Precious Metals
    • Jewelry Care
    • Diamond Buying Tops
    • Customer Service
    • Contact Us
    • Make an Appointment
    • SVS Blog
    • Easy Returns
    • Careers at SVS
    © 2021 SVS Fine Jewelry. All Rights Reserved. Website designed, maintained, and hosted by Punchmark. Accessibility Statement.
    Site Map Privacy & Security Terms of Use