The Four C’s

The 4C’s relate to a diamond’s CUT, COLOR, CLARITY, CARAT WEIGHT. The better these four characteristics, the more valuable the diamond.

Cut	The way a diamond is cut is vital. It is the precision and delicacy of the cut that dictates the maximum amount of light the diamond will refract and reflect. The better it has been cut the greater will be its brilliance, sparkle and fire.
Color	Most diamonds look colorless but there are many subtle shade differences, and the closer a diamond is to showing no color, the more valuable it becomes.
Clarity	Thanks to nature, every diamond is unique. Each one possesses its own individuality. This could be due to minute traces of other minerals trapped during the crystallization process. These natural characteristics, called “inclusions,” are often described as nature’s fingerprints and help gemologists determine the age of a diamond. The number, color, nature, size and position of any inclusions determines the clarity of a diamond.
Carat	The carat is a unit of weight which derives from the carob seed. In today’s terms, the carat is a standard metric weight of .2 grams. Each carat is divided into 100 points. For example, a quarter of a carat is 25 points, written as 0.25ct.

The 5th C

Confidence in your jeweler is the one “C” that is often overlooked.

When you are ready to choose your diamond, see Fino Jewelers. We have experts who will be happy to explain the 4C’s to you in more detail. We will also be able to show you beautiful diamonds in many sizes and can tell you the difference between various qualities of diamonds and how these differences affect the price you pay.

Established jewelers prize their good reputation, and know you are making one of your most important purchases. Fino Jewelers can help you select the diamond of your dreams, and the very best your money can buy.