4Cs OF DIAMOND QUALITY

A round brilliant cut diamond with a graphic overlay explaining the 4Cs - color, cut, clarity and carat weight.

Beautiful. Rare. Cherished. Each diamond is unique and is a miracle of time, place and change. And each has specific qualities that establish its value.

Until the middle of the twentieth century, there was no agreed-upon standard by which diamonds could be judged. GIA created the first, and now globally accepted standard for describing diamonds: Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat Weight. Today, the 4Cs of Diamond Quality is the universal method for assessing the quality of any diamond, anywhere in the world. The creation of the Diamond 4Cs meant two very important things: diamond quality could be communicated in a universal language, and diamond customers could now know exactly what they were about to purchase.

As creator of the Diamond 4Cs and the International Diamond Grading System™, GIA is not only a global authority, but the world’s trusted source for unbiased assessment.

Learn more about 

Diamond Color

Diamond Clarity

Diamond Cut 

Diamond Carat Weight

Courtesy of GIA®

GIA is the creator of the 4Cs and is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Use of this tool signifies your agreement to its terms of use.