Skip to main content
  • Services
  • Contact
  • Reviews
  • Search
  • Account
  • My Wish List
Mathew Jewelers
  • Engagement
    Shop by Style
    HaloSolitaireThree StoneDiamond Band
    Shop by Designer
    ArtCarved BridalGabriel & Co.Gottlieb & SonsZeghani
    Shop Wedding Bands
    Women'sMen'sGabriel & Co. Men's Wedding Bands

    Explore All Engagement
  • Watches
    • Bulova
    • Caravelle
  • Brands
    • Ania Haie
    • Jorge Revilla
    • ArtCarved Bridal
    • Belle Etoile
    • Breuning
    • Bulova
    • Charles Garnier Paris
    • Desmos Jewellery
    • Dora Rings
    • Frederic Duclos
    • Frederick Goldman
    • Gabriel & Co.
    • HL Manufacturing
    • Imperial Pearl
    • Jabel
    • Kelly Waters
    • Kiddie Kraft
    • Mathew Jewelers Designs
    • Midas
    • Triton
  • Jewelry
    • Custom Jewelry
      • Custom Design Showcase
    • Mens Accessories
    • Rings
      • Women's Wedding Bands
      • Men's Wedding Bands
      • Anniversary Rings
      • Colored Stone Rings
      • Diamond Fashion Rings
      • Gold Fashion Rings
    • Engagement Rings
      • Diamond Band
      • Three Stone
      • Solitaire
      • Halo
    • Pendants & Necklaces
      • Colored Stone Pendants & Necklaces
      • Diamond Pendants & Necklaces
      • Pearl Pendants & Necklaces
      • Silver Pendants & Necklaces
    • Earrings
      • Colored Stone Earrings
      • Diamond Earrings
      • Gold Fashion Earrings
      • Pearl Earrings
      • Silver Earrings
    • Bracelets
      • Diamond Bracelets
      • Pearl Bracelets
      • Silver Bracelets
    • Children's Jewelry
    • Watches
      • Bulova
      • Caravelle
  • Create(current)
  • Education
    • Jewelry Education
    • Diamond Education
      • The Four Cs of Diamonds
      • Diamond Buying Tips
    • Choosing The Right Setting
    • Learn About Gemstones
      • Birthstone Guide
      • Gemstone Guide
    • Precious Metals
    • Jewelry Care
      • Caring for Fine Jewelry
      • Diamond Cleaning
      • Gemstone Cleaning
    • Anniversary Guide
    • Gold Buying Guide
    • Jewelry Insurance
  • About Us
    • Our History
    • Our Services
  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 Mathew Jewelers, Inc. 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 Mathew Jewelers, Inc. and is typically not recommended.

Excellent
Very Good
Good
Fair
Poor
Not carried by Mathew Jewelers, Inc.

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

ZELIENOPLE Location
122 N Main St
Zelienople, PA 16063
(724) 452-9240
Store Information
ZELIENOPLE Hours
Monday - Wednesday:9:00am - 5:30pm
Thursday:9:00am - 8:00pm
Friday:9:00am - 5:30pm
Saturday:9:00am - 4:00pm
Sunday:Closed
CRANBERRY Location
20430 Route 19
Suite 170
Cranberry Twp, PA 16066
(724) 776-9240
Store Information
Cranberry Hours
Monday - Wednesday:10:00am - 5:30pm
Thursday - Friday:10:00am - 8:00pm
Saturday:10:00am - 5:30pm
Sunday:Closed
Collections
  • Ania Haie
  • Jorge Revilla
  • ArtCarved Bridal
  • Belle Etoile
  • Breuning
  • Bulova
  • Charles Garnier Paris
  • Desmos Jewellery
  • Dora Rings
  • Frederic Duclos
  • Frederick Goldman
  • Gabriel & Co.
  • HL Manufacturing
  • Imperial Pearl
  • Jabel
  • Kelly Waters
  • Kiddie Kraft
  • Mathew Jewelers Designs
  • Midas
  • Triton
Shop Jewelry
  • Custom Jewelry
  • Mens Accessories
  • Rings
  • Engagement Rings
  • Pendants & Necklaces
  • Earrings
  • Bracelets
  • Children's Jewelry
  • Watches
Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Signup for special offers and discounts.

© 2023 Mathew Jewelers, Inc.. All Rights Reserved. Website designed, maintained, and hosted by Punchmark. Accessibility Statement.