What are the 4Cs of diamonds?

The 4Cs are Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat weight. Cut determines sparkle, Color measures warmth from D (colorless) to Z, Clarity grades internal flaws, and Carat measures weight. Cut is the most important factor for beauty.

What is GIA certification?

GIA (Gemological Institute of America) certification is an independent grading report verifying a diamond's 4Cs. GIA is the most respected diamond grading laboratory worldwide, providing objective assessments with unique report numbers for verification.

What diamond cut grade should I choose?

Choose Excellent or Ideal cut for maximum sparkle. Cut is the most important of the 4Cs because it determines how well the diamond reflects light, affecting brilliance, fire, and scintillation.

What is the difference between natural and lab-grown diamonds?

Natural diamonds form over billions of years in the Earth, while lab-grown diamonds are created in weeks. Both are chemically identical. Lab-grown cost 30-40% less and are more environmentally friendly.

Diamond Education Guide

This guide is grounded in real diamonds we select for our clients. Throughout the page, we reference this 1.00 ct natural round brilliant as a benchmark for quality and performance.

Master the 4Cs: Understand cut, color, clarity, and carat to find your perfect diamond
Certification insights: Learn to read GIA, IGI, and other lab reports with confidence
Shape & style guide: Discover which diamond shape suits your ring design
Expert recommendations: Budget-friendly tips from our diamond specialists

Explore the 4Cs Talk to an Expert

Real HEA diamond — 1.00 ct, D color, VVS2 clarity, Excellent cut.

BENCHMARK QUALITY

A Real HEA Diamond Example

Meet our benchmark diamond — a 1.00 ct D color VVS2 round brilliant with Excellent cut. We'll refer to this stone throughout the guide to show you exactly what quality looks like in practice.

1.00ct round brilliant D VVS2 natural diamond — Face-up view of a 1.00 ct D VVS2 round brilliant HEA natural diamond.

1.00 ct Round Brilliant — GIA Certified

Carat: 1.00
Color: D (colorless)
Clarity: VVS2
Cut: Excellent
Polish & Symmetry: Excellent / Excellent
Fluorescence: Faint
Measurements: 6.48–6.51 × 3.90 mm
Certification: GIA report no. 6521350922

This is a typical example of the kind of balanced, high-performance natural diamonds we select at HEA.

Verify this report on GIA

THE MOST IMPORTANT C

Cut — Where the Magic Happens

Cut is where a diamond either comes alive… or doesn't. It determines how efficiently the stone catches light and returns it back to your eye as sparkle, fire, and contrast.

Diamond cut grades comparison - Poor to Excellent light performance

Why Cut Matters Most

A well-cut diamond will sparkle brilliantly even with lower color or clarity grades. A poorly cut diamond will look dull regardless of how colorless or flawless it is.

HEA guidance: Our example 1.00 ct diamond is graded Excellent for cut, with excellent polish and symmetry. When in doubt, prioritize cut above everything else — it's the biggest factor in how your diamond sparkles.

See diamonds with Excellent cut →

THE NUANCE OF WHITE

Color — From D to Z

Color measures how much warmth (or lack of it) you see in a diamond. The GIA scale runs from D (colorless) down to Z (noticeable color).

← Colorless Light Yellow →

HEA guidance: You don't have to be at D to enjoy a diamond that looks beautifully white. For platinum or white gold we typically recommend D–H; for yellow or rose gold, G–J usually offers outstanding value while still looking bright once set.

Browse D–H color diamonds →

PEACE OF MIND

Clarity — Tiny Details, Big Confidence

Clarity looks at the natural inclusions and surface features inside and on the surface of a diamond. Almost every diamond has them; what matters is whether you can see them.

Understanding Clarity Grades

Our HEA example diamond is VVS2 — its inclusions are extremely difficult to see even under magnification, and completely invisible in everyday wear.

HEA guidance: For most engagement rings, we focus on "eye-clean" clarity — diamonds that look clear without magnification. VS1–SI1 often gives an ideal balance of beauty and value.

Shop eye-clean clarity diamonds →

SIZE & PRESENCE

Carat — Presence, Not Just a Number

Carat measures weight, but what you actually feel is presence on the hand: how large the diamond appears from above and how it balances with the setting and finger.

Compare Carat Sizes

Drag the handles to compare different carat weights side by side

0.50 ct.

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0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 2.00

2.00 ct.

Diamond images are for reference only and may vary based on screen size

HEA guidance: We often look just below common carat marks (0.90 ct, 1.40 ct, etc.) to find exceptional value while keeping strong visual presence.

Explore around 1.00 ct diamonds →

FIND YOUR STYLE

Diamond Shapes

Shape defines the personality of a ring: how it catches light, how large it appears, and how it feels on the hand. Explore the most popular shapes below.

Browse All Diamond Shapes

TRUST & TRANSPARENCY

Diamond Certifications

A grading report is an independent document that records a diamond's characteristics. It protects your trust and helps you compare stones objectively.

GIA

Gemological Institute of America Industry gold standard

IGI

International Gemological Institute Leading lab-grown certifier

AGS

American Gem Society Cut quality specialists

GIA certificate for 1.00ct round brilliant VVS2 diamond

How to Read a GIA Report

A GIA report can look intimidating at first glance, but it's simply a structured way to record what your diamond is:

Report number: At the top of the document — the same number laser-inscribed on the stone.
4Cs summary: Carat, color, clarity, and cut listed together.
Measurements & proportions: The physical dimensions that drive light performance.
Clarity diagram: A map of where inclusions are located.
Additional info: Fluorescence, polish, symmetry, and comments.

Verify this HEA diamond directly on GIA →

SMART CHOICES

Recommended Specs by Budget

Every client starts from a different place. These ranges aren't rules — they're calm, realistic starting points that we can refine together.

Up to €3,000

Type: Often lab-grown for maximum size and sparkle
Color: G–H
Clarity: VS2–SI1 (eye-clean)
Cut: Excellent / Very Good only
Carat: 0.70–1.20 ct

€3,000 – €7,000

Type: Natural and lab-grown options
Color: H–I for natural, G–H for lab
Clarity: VS2–SI1 (eye-clean)
Cut: Excellent preferred
Carat: 0.80–1.20 ct natural

€7,000 and Above

Type: Primarily natural diamonds
Color: D–F for very white; G–H for balance
Clarity: VVS–VS for perfection
Cut: Excellent, strong light performance
Carat: 1.00 ct and above

These are starting points, not boxes. The most important part is how the diamond feels to you when you see it.

START YOUR JOURNEY

Talk to a Diamond Expert

You don't have to navigate this alone. We'll walk you through real stones, side by side, until one feels unmistakably right.

Book a Consultation

HEA gemologist offering one-on-one diamond consultation