The Very Highest Quality Diamond Information...


Diamonds - The 4 C'sClick here to return to FAQ IndexChard 24 Carat Home Page

Diamonds Index
Round Brilliant Cut Diamond
Round Brilliant Cut Diamond

The 4 C's - Cut, Clarity, Colour & Carat Weight
Almost every jeweller will be able to tell you about the 4 C's which affect diamond prices. We can tell you about a dozen C's which affect prices.
De Beers who run the Diamond Promotion Service pump out information to all jewellers about their famous 4 C's, the four factors which affect diamond prices. The DPS wants you the consumer to be aware of the different diamond qualities, so that it can get you to pay more money for better quality diamonds.
Sadly, a few jewellery shops can't or won't tell you about the 4 C's. Our advice is to avoid such shops. There is an important distinction between a jeweller and a jewellery shop, we are sure you can work that out for yourself.

The Four C's Are:-
Cut
Colour
Clarity
Carat Weight

Take Our Tour of the C's
Start at the "Cut" link, and when you have finished each page, click on the "Next Stop" link.

Even More C's Are:-
Most jewellers can't tell you any more C's because nobody has told them, and they haven't bothered to work it out for themselves. We give a lot of thought to these extra C's. If you like to think for yourself, you may want to look at what follows, and see if you agree with us.
You can go directly to any of the following links, or you can take our Beyond the 4C's Tour, then when you have finished each page, click the "Next Stop" link.

Cloudy
Some diamonds are cloudy and do not sparkle.
Consignment
Jewellers get diamonds on "Sale or Return". There as advantages and disadvantages.
Confidence
You need to have confidence in your jeweller. This should not just be a blind leap of faith.
Cash
Cash, Cheque, Credit, Cards. All these can make a difference.
Competition
Competition does not always lower prices. Sometimes it has the opposite effect!
Certification
Laboratories exist which will grade and certificate diamonds for quality.
Compromise
Compromise is necessary to balance the different factors.
Cars, Cigs, and Costas
Diamonds are cheap compared with other consumer purchases.
Clicks
Clicks and Mortar or Bricks and Mortar?
Common Sense
Apply a little common sense.
Chard
We hope this is where you will end up!

Colour Enhanced
Notes about colour enhancement of diamonds.

Conflict
A few thoughts about conflict diamonds.
Comparison
Comparison of diamonds is desirable but difficult.
Created
Synthetic diamonds can be created from carbon.
Challenge Us
Control
Do De Beers Control the Diamond Market?
Consumer Confidence Trick
As Told by De Beers
Diamond Cleavage
How Cleavage Helps Obtain a Great Diamond

Try our diamond challenge to get you an even better deal.

If you would like to know how quality affects price, please take a look at our price example pages:-
Price v. Quality of a 1 Carat Diamond or
Price v. Quality of a Half Carat Diamond

The 3C's
It's important not to confuse the 4C's above with an Italian saying about 3C's - Cuore, Cervello, Coglioni, which means something completely different!


...at the Lowest Possible Price

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