Christmas: order made-to-order by Wed 4 Nov

Diamond & Stone Guide

The short answer: four things describe a diamond. Cut decides how well it sparkles, colour how white it looks (graded D to Z), clarity how many tiny inclusions it has (graded FL to I3) and carat what it weighs. Divara's lab-grown diamonds are listed at D–H colour and VS clarity or better, and pieces above 1 carat total weight come with an IGI certificate.

What are the 4Cs of a diamond?

The C What it measures Scale Divara's lab-grown diamonds
Cut How well the proportions, symmetry and polish return light A grade on the laboratory report Shown on the IGI report for certified stones
Colour How colourless the diamond is D (colourless) to Z (light yellow, brown or grey) D–H
Clarity Inclusions and blemishes seen at 10x magnification FL, IF, VVS1–2, VS1–2, SI1–2, I1–3 VS or better
Carat Weight: 1 carat is 0.2 grams Hundredths of a carat Stated on each listing, centre and total

Which of the 4Cs matters most?

Cut matters most for how a diamond looks, because it controls sparkle. A well-cut diamond with a lower colour grade can look livelier than a poorly cut one graded higher. Colour and clarity have diminishing returns. At VS clarity, GIA describes inclusions as taking effort to see even at 10x magnification, so they are minor. Colour is easiest to notice in white gold and platinum; in yellow and rose gold, the metal's warmth makes small colour differences harder to see.

What do the clarity grades mean?

  • FL and IF (Flawless, Internally Flawless): no inclusions visible at 10x.
  • VVS1 and VVS2 (Very, Very Slightly Included): inclusions hard for even a skilled grader to find.
  • VS1 and VS2 (Very Slightly Included): inclusions take effort to see and are considered minor.
  • SI1 and SI2 (Slightly Included): inclusions are noticeable at 10x.
  • I1, I2 and I3 (Included): obvious inclusions that may affect brilliance or durability.

Does a bigger carat weight mean a bigger-looking diamond?

Not always. Carat is weight, not size. Elongated shapes such as ovals, pears and marquise cuts spread their weight over a longer outline, so they tend to look larger face-up than a round of the same weight. A deep, poorly cut stone hides weight underneath where you can't see it. See the diamond shapes guide for what to check in each shape.

Which stone should I choose?

Every Divara made-to-order design can be set with a lab-grown diamond or moissanite, so you can compare prices on the same piece. Natural diamonds are available on request.

  • Lab-grown diamond: a real diamond, hardness 10, graded on the 4Cs. Read the lab-grown diamond guide.
  • Moissanite: a different gemstone, hardness 9.25, with stronger rainbow fire and a much lower price. Read the moissanite guide.
  • Natural diamond: available on request. Ask us and we'll source and quote a natural stone for your design.

What does a diamond certificate show?

A grading report from a laboratory such as IGI or GIA records the carat weight, measurements, colour, clarity and cut, and for a lab-grown diamond it states that the stone is laboratory-grown. Divara includes an IGI certificate on lab-grown diamond pieces above 1 carat total weight. Here's how to read and verify an IGI report, and the full checklist for buying online safely.

Where do I go next?

Sources