The 4Cs, in plain English

Cut — the only one we never compromise on

Cut is the geometry that makes a diamond sparkle. A poorly cut 1.5ct diamond looks dull next to a beautifully cut 1.0ct one. The grade runs Excellent → Very Good → Good. We list Excellent by default.

Color — easier than you think

Graded D (colorless) through Z (light yellow). To the naked eye, D through G look essentially identical once the stone is in a setting. Most of our customers choose F or G — the difference is invisible, and the price drop is meaningful. If you're choosing yellow or rose gold, you can go further (H or I) without seeing it.

Clarity — the magnification trap

Clarity is graded under 10x magnification. In real life, anything VS2 or better is what jewelers call "eye-clean" — no visible inclusions without a loupe. Spending up for VVS or IF is mostly buying a certificate, not a visibly better diamond.

Carat — weight, not size

One carat is 0.2 grams. Two diamonds of the same carat weight can look very different sizes depending on cut and shape — an oval will face up larger than a round of the same weight. We show measurements (in millimeters) on every stone for this reason.

Where we tell people to spend

Cut first. Then carat. Then color in the F–G range. Then clarity at VS1–VS2. Spending in that order usually produces the most beautiful stone for the budget.