The 4C's are what is known as the official criteria a diamond is graded against, namely the Carat, Clarity, Colour and Cut of a precious stone. Along with the diamonds that feature in our collections, each diamond that we use within our bespoke designed pieces here at Piperno & Fuller has been certified by an official body such as the GIA and examined against these criteria by a qualified external gemologist. Understanding a little background behind each of the 4C's will give you the insider knowledge you need when shopping around, and along with the help from our in studio experts will help you select the perfect stone for you. 

 

 

DIAMOND CARAT

Contrary to popular understanding, a diamonds carat refers to its weight as opposed its size, although in most cases the higher the carat the larger the diamond. Dating back to the 16th century, jewellery was measured using carob seeds which were thought to be a reliable counterweight due to the little variance in their mass, which explains where the name carat originates from. Of course there are many factors that make up the beauty of a diamond besides its weight and appearance in size, perhaps one the largest contributing factors is the skill in cutting the diamond to accentuate its natural beauty and optimise sparkle. 

 

 

DIAMOND CLARITY

As the diagram above illustrates, the clarity grading of the diamonds Piperno & Fuller work with run from Flawless to Slightly Included, and refers to the absence of imperfections and blemishes in the stone. Each diamond is evaluated for the number of both internal and external inclusions, the size, position and nature of these characteristics, as well as the impact they have on how the stone appears.

 

 

DIAMOND COLOUR

A diamond pure and perfect in structure will have no colour at all, completely clear in appearance. The grading starts at D as an exceptionally white diamond and works through alphabetically through to J the more colour a stone is graded to have. These differences in colour are a component that effects how expensive a stone will be. The clearer the diamond, the higher in value it becomes. When visiting us in store we will be happy to guide you through the options and to the right grade of diamond to suit your requirements and budget. 

 

 

DIAMOND CUT

Different to the shape of a diamond, a diamond's cut is skilfully crafted to maximise its interaction and transmission of light. It is a complex process with many considerations to achieve the best cut for each individual stone. A master craftsman will work at the depth, the table, the height and angle of the crown and its girdle thickness. Each of these factors along with others will affect the grading of a stone as well as its durability and the way it directs light.