The 4 Cs

Every diamond is assessed according to four fundamental characteristics – the so-called 4Cs. Together, these determine the diamond's appearance, quality, and price. We recommend prioritizing them in the following order:

Cut (Grinding)
Cut (Grinding)

The most important property

Carat
Carat

Weight and size

Clarity
Clarity

Purity and inclusions

Colour
Colour

Hue and Chroma

Cut – Grinding

The cut is the most important characteristic of a diamond. It is the cut that determines how well the diamond reflects light – and thus how much it sparkles and shimmers.

A well-cut diamond captures light and refracts it into spectacular patterns of brilliance and fire. With the right proportions and symmetry, a diamond can appear both larger and more vibrant than a stone of the same carat weight but with an inferior cut.

The cut is graded in five steps:

ExcellentMaximum brilliance and light reflection
Very GoodVery high quality
GodsGood light reflection
FairAcceptable quality
PoorInsufficient light reflection

COLIÈNE-standard

At COLIÈNE, we only work with the cut grade Excellent. This ensures that every diamond we offer has optimal brilliance and sparkle – regardless of size.

Carat – Weight

Carat is a measure of a diamond's weight, where 1 carat is equivalent to 0.2 grams. It's important to understand that carat does not directly indicate size – two diamonds with the same carat weight can appear to be different sizes depending on how they are cut.

A deeply cut diamond may have more of its weight hidden below the surface, while a well-proportioned stone distributes the weight evenly and appears larger from above.

Clarity – Clarity

Clarity – Clarity

Clarity describes the presence of natural inclusions and surface blemishes in the diamond. These are formed during the diamond's creation process and make each stone unique.

FL/IF

Flawless/Internally Flawless –
No inclusions visible, even under 10x magnification

HVAC1/HVAC2

Very Very Slightly Included –
Extremely minute inclusions, very difficult to see under magnification

VS1/VS2

Very Slightly Included –
Small inclusions, visible under magnification but rarely to the naked eye

I1/I2

Slightly Included –
Inclusions that are sometimes visible to the naked eye

I1/I2/I3

Included –
Inclusions visible to the naked eye

Our tip

The most important thing is that the diamond is "eye clean" – that the inclusions are not visible to the naked eye. This gives you the best value for your budget without compromising on appearance.

COLIÈNE standard

Natural diamonds
SI (Slightly Included) – carefully selected to be eye clean

Lab-grown diamonds
VS (Very Slightly Included) – higher clarity as standard

Colour – Colour

Most diamonds have a subtle color that ranges from completely colorless to slightly yellow or brown hues. The color is graded on an international scale from D (completely colorless) to Z (visibly colored).

An alternative system is also used in the Nordic countries:

D–ERiver (exceptionally colorless)
F–GTop Wesselton (Excellent Colourless)
HWesselton (colourless)
I–JTop Crystal (almost colorless)
K–LCrystal (faint colour)

Metal choice & colour

The color of a diamond is perceived differently depending on the metal you choose. A diamond with a warm hue can appear completely colorless in yellow gold, while the same stone in white gold or platinum may reveal its warmer shade. Our white gold is rhodium-plated, which provides a clean, white surface that enhances the diamond's brilliance.

COLIÈNE standard

Natural diamonds
H/Wesselton (W) – a balanced colour that works beautifully in all metals

Lab-grown diamonds
D-G/Top Wesselton – even higher colour quality as standard

Find your perfect diamond

The four Cs – Cut, Carat, Clarity, and Color – give you the tools to understand what makes a diamond unique. Together, they determine how much your diamond sparkles, how large it appears, and what price you can expect. At COLIÈNE, we help you find the right balance between these characteristics – so you get a stone that both looks fantastic and fits your budget.

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