To establish a diamond's quality, jewelers examine each of the 4Cs--Cut, Clarity, Carat weight, and Color. The combination of the 4Cs determines the value of a particular diamond. Strive for a stone that offers the best combination of the 4Cs. Knowing a diamond's place in the Diamond Quality Pyramid will help you to make an informed decision.
The Diamond Quality Pyramid--How To Measure A Diamond's Value
The Diamond Quality Pyramid is a framework to help you compare diamonds. Those closest to the top of the pyramid--possessing the best combination of cut, clarity, carat weight and color--are the earth's rarest, most valuable and most beautiful to the eye.
Carat--The Larger a Diamond, the Rarer
Larger diamonds are found relatively infrequently in nature, which places them at the rarest level of the Diamond Quality Pyramid. A diamond's size is measured in carat weight, and each carat is equal to 100 points. A .75 carat diamond is the same as a 75-point diamond or 3/4 carat stone. While larger diamonds are highly prized, diamonds of equal size may vary widely in value and brilliance, depending on their qualities of clarity, cut and color.
