The 4Cs
Diamond Education
Understanding the four characteristics that determine a diamond's quality and value will help you choose the perfect stone with confidence.
The Most Important Factor
Cut refers to how well a diamond's facets interact with light. A well-cut diamond will exhibit brilliance (white light reflections), fire (flashes of color), and scintillation (sparkle when moved). Cut is graded from Excellent to Poor.
Of the 4Cs, cut has the greatest influence on a diamond's beauty. Even a diamond with perfect color and clarity can appear dull if it is poorly cut.
From Colorless to Light
Diamond color is graded on a scale from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown). Colorless diamonds are the most rare and valuable. Most diamonds used in jewelry are near-colorless (G–J), offering excellent value.
Fancy colored diamonds — blue, pink, yellow, green — follow a different grading scale and are prized for their intensity of color.
Internal Characteristics
Clarity measures the absence of inclusions (internal) and blemishes (external). The GIA clarity scale ranges from Flawless (FL) to Included (I1–I3). Most inclusions are microscopic and don't affect beauty.
Diamonds graded VS2 or higher are considered "eye-clean" — no inclusions visible to the naked eye — and offer excellent value.
Weight, Not Size
Carat weight measures how much a diamond weighs. One carat equals 200 milligrams. Because larger diamonds are rarer, price increases exponentially — not linearly — with carat weight.
Two diamonds of equal carat weight can appear different sizes depending on cut proportions. A well-cut diamond can appear larger than its carat weight suggests.
Certified Conflict-Free Diamonds
At Michael’s Jewelers, 100% of our diamonds are guaranteed conflict-free and strictly adhere to the international Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and World Diamond Council standards.
Every loose diamond over 0.50 carats is accompanied by an independent grading report from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or American Gem Society (AGS).
Ready to view certified loose diamonds in our Anchorage studio?
