When shopping for a diamond engagement ring there are a few characteristics of the stone that determine its quality—and typically its price. They call these the “4Cs”: carat, cut, color, and clarity.
Carat: This is the weight or size of the diamond. The larger the diamond, the more it typically costs. For instance, a half-carat or 1-carat ring will generally cost a lot less than a 2-carat diamond engagement ring.
Cut: The shape of a diamond (round, princess, marquise, etc,) is usually referred to as the cut, but in this case, “cut” refers to how well the facets of the diamond refract the light. Jewelers measure the quality of the cut on a scale—fair, good, very good, and excellent—based on how it sparkles. The more optimal the sparkle, the more expensive the diamond will be.
Color: This measures the color of the diamond on a scale of D to Z, with D being completely colorless and Z being light yellow or brown. The whiter the diamond, the more it typically costs. While D to F diamonds are rare, those in the G to J range are a popular choice for proposal rings, and they generally appear colorless to the human eye. Diamonds K to M range typically have a slight yellow tint, which some couples looking for unique engagement rings actually prefer.
Clarity: This measures how clear the diamond is. Diamonds are formed when carbon deposits deep below ground are exposed to extreme heat and pressure. During this process, it’s common for diamonds to get tiny imperfections or “inclusions” that jewelers can spot with their magnifying tools. While sometimes called flaws or defects, inclusions are part of what gives each diamond its own character. The clarity of the diamond is rated on its own scale, based on how they appear when viewed at 10x magnification. The fewer and smaller the inclusions, the more expensive the diamond tends to be.
- F: These are considered completely flawless, with no inclusions and no blemishes on the outside of the stone.
- IF: These are internally flawless. In other words, there are no inclusions inside the stone.
- VVS1 or VVS2: These are very, very slightly included, with just a few microscopic inclusions that are difficult to see with magnification.
- VS1 or VS2: These are very slightly included, with just a few small inclusions that are visible with magnification.
- SI1 or SI2: These are slightly included. In other words, they have inclusions that are noticeable or easy to see with magnification.
- I1, I2, or I3: These are considered imperfect. They have inclusions that are very noticeable with magnification and can often be seen with the naked eye.
When it comes to engagement rings for women, VS and SI diamonds are popular choices, because they are generally more affordable, and they are considered to be “eye clean,” meaning you can’t see any inclusions with the naked eye.