Skip to main content
  • About
  • Reviews
  • Contact
  • Search
  • Account
  • My Wish List
Carroll's Jewelers logo
  • Engagement
    • Start with the Ring
    • Start With a Diamond
    • Shop Engagement Rings
    • Shop Gabriel Bridal
    • Diamond Education
  • Diamonds
    • Search for Earth Mined
    • Search for Lab Grown
    • Diamond Concierge
  • Jewelry
    • Specials
    • Earrings
      • Diamond Earrings
      • Gemstone Earrings
      • Gold Earrings
      • Silver Earrings
      • Earring Jackets
    • Bracelets
      • Diamond Bracelets
      • Gemstone Bracelets
      • Gold Bracelets
      • Silver Bracelets
    • Pendants & Necklaces
      • Diamond Pendants & Necklaces
      • Gemstone Pendants & Necklaces
      • Gold Pendants & Necklaces
      • Silver Pendants & Necklaces
      • Cufflinks
      • Other
    • Rings
      • Engagement Rings
      • Wedding Bands
      • Anniversary Bands
      • Diamond Fashion Rings
      • Gemstone Fashion Rings
      • Gold Fashion Rings
      • Silver Fashion Rings
    • Pearl Jewelry
      • Pearl Necklaces/Pendants
      • Pearl Bracelets
      • Pearl Earrings
      • Pearl Rings
    • Charms
      • Gold Charms
      • Silver Charms
      • Charm Bracelets
    • Chains
      • Gold Chains
      • Silver Chains
      • Anklets
    • Gabriel Bridal
    • Gabriel Fashion
    • Childrens Jewelry
      • Childrens Pendants/Necklaces
      • Childrens Earrings
      • Childrens Bracelets
      • Childrens Pins
    • Gents Jewelry
      • Gents Bracelets
      • Gents Chains
      • Gents Accessories
      • Gents Rings
      • Gents Personalized
    • Watches
      • Ladies Watches
      • Gents Watches
      • Watch Accessories
    • Personalized Jewelry
      • Family Jewelry
      • Monogram/Name Jewelry
      • Momento Jewelry & Accessories
      • Memorial Jewelry
    • Gift Cards
    • Bangle Bracelets
    • Hoop Earrings
  • Collections
    • ArtCarved
    • Bassali
    • Carla/Nancy B
    • Citizen
    • Desmos
    • Ella Stein
    • Ever & Ever
    • Facet Barcelona
    • Gabriel & Co
    • Kamaria
    • Kelly Waters
    • Levy Creations
    • Phillip Gavriel
    • Rembrandt Charms
    • Ti Sento
  • Custom
  • Education
    • Jewelry Education
    • Diamond Education
    • Choosing the Right Setting
    • Learn About Gemstones
    • Precious Metals
    • Jewelry Care
    • Anniversary Guide
    • Gold Buying Guide
  • Services
  1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Diamonds

Learn About Diamonds

The Four Cs of Diamonds

Our Four C's of Diamonds guide can help you decide on the most important factors when shopping for a diamond.

  • Carat
  • Cut
  • Color
  • Clarity

The Carat Weight

The word carat derives from the word carob, a Mediterranean seed, which has an extremely consistent weight for measuring. The greater the carat weight, the rarer, and more valuable the diamond becomes. Five metric carats weighs exactly 1 gram.

Some people want the largest diamond possible. If size is a priority, we at Carroll's Jewelers can help you classify the proper cut, color and clarity to fit your budget economically, and fit your jewelry beautifully. Many of our engagement rings can fit diamonds up to 5.00 carats, but each ring has different size constraints based on its size and the type of setting. Prong settings can be manipulated to fit virtually any size diamond, but tension-set diamonds and bezel set diamonds have more limitations on size.

The Cut

The true definition of cut is the quality of the proportions and symmetry of the diamond. Your diamond's proportions make a vast difference on how brightly your diamond shines. An 'ideal cut' diamond is one that allows the maximum amount of light to return through the top of the diamond, which takes into consideration the depth, table size, crown height and angle, girdle thickness and more. Our diamond professionals will be happy to assist you in selecting the best diamond cut.

After a rough diamond is mined, it is evaluated to determine its best possible cut, in order to maintain the maximum clarity, color, and carat weight. The term 'cut' is often confused with diamond 'shape', such as round brilliant or princess cut.

Excellent

This is the rarest cut grade and reflects the most light.

Very Good

This cut grade reflects nearly as much light as an Excellent cut grade, but for a lower price.

Good

This cut grade reflects most of the light that enters the diamond, but not as much as a Very Good cut grade.

Fair

This cut grade may appear dull or even glassy, and is very inexpensive.

Poor

This cut grade is not carried by Carroll's Jewelers and is typically not recommended.

Excellent
Very Good
Good
Fair
Poor
Not carried by Carroll's Jewelers

MORE DIAMONDS

The Color

Color is one of the more noticeable attributes of a diamond and has a heavy impact on the price of the stone. Diamonds range from colorless to yellow or light brown, and are sometimes found in a spectrum of fancy colors, including yellow, blue, and even red diamonds. The less color, the rarer the diamond. After 'Z' on the color scale, diamonds become fancy yellow, which cost more because of their rarity.

Z-N
M-K
Noticeable Color
J
I
H
G
Near Colorless
F
E
D
Colorless
Z-N
M-K
J
I
H
G
F
E
D
Noticeable Color
Near Colorless
Colorless

The Clarity

Diamonds are composed of mostly carbon. During the heating process, other elements become trapped inside, giving each diamond its own unique fingerprint. These inclusions help identify the clarity of your diamond. All diamonds are viewed through a 10x magnification lens by diamond graders.

Flawless

No inclusions or blemishes are visible to a skilled grader.

Internally Flawless

No inclusions and only blemishes are visible to a skilled grader.

Very Very Slightly Included

Inclusions are difficult for a skilled grader to see.

Very Slightly Included

Inclusions are clearly visible but can be characterized as minor.

Slightly Included

Inclusions are noticeable to a skilled grader.

Included

Inclusions are obvious and may affect transparency and brilliance.

FFlawless
IFInternally Flawless
VVS1
VVS2
Very Very Slightly Included
VS1
VS2
Very Slightly Included
SI1
SI2
Slightly Included
I1
I2
I3
Included

MORE DIAMONDS

Shop Loose Diamonds

Earth Mined vs Lab Grown Diamonds

What is a Lab Grown Diamond?

Grown diamonds are REAL diamonds.  They have the same physical, chemical and optical properties as mined diamonds.  The main differences between two are where the originate and the cost.

Can you tell the difference between Grown and Mined?

There is no visual difference between grown and mined diamonds - even a trained gemologist cannot tell the difference by without equipment.  Carbon is the main element in both mined and grown diamonds.  The only chemical difference between the two is that most mined stones contain tiny amounts of nitrogen while lab stones do not.  This lack of nitrogen is one way gemologists can identify one versus the other.  Laser inscription can be another identifier.

How are Grown diamonds graded?

Grown diamond rough is cut just like mined rough and the resulting stones are graded for cut, color and clarity using the same industry standards as mined.  Grown diamonds come in a variety of carat weights and shapes just like mined stones and can have an accompanying industry grading report detailing the 4 C’s of diamond grading.

How are Grown diamonds made?

Grown diamonds are created by using two gem-quality diamond creation processes:  High Pressure - High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Depostion (CVD).   It can take between a week and a few months to “grow” the diamond crystal rough depending upon the method.

In the HPHT method, natural graphite is placed into a machine that crushes it with extreme pressure and high temperature turning the graphite to diamond - exactly how the earth does it over the course of millions of years.

For the CVD method, During the processes, a small diamond “seed crystal” is placed in a chamber filled with common gases.  When the gases are heated, they begin to form layer upon layer of carbon onto the seed crystal making it grow.




Are Grown Diamonds a more Environment-Friendly Option?

This is a widely debated topic inside and outside the diamond industry. While it’s true grown diamonds eliminate the need to dig into the earth’s core, helping to minimize scarring of the landscape, the machines that produce grown diamonds require constant energy to run the massive microwave heat generators.  Therefore, applying terms like “Green”, “Carbon Neutral”, “Sustainable” and “Ethical” to grown diamonds can be misleading.

What is the cost difference between Mined and Grown diamonds?

Grown diamonds cost significantly less than mined diamonds mainly due to the fact that what used to take millions of years to produce can now be done in a matter of weeks/months.  Still considered fairly new in the market, there are not nearly as many lab diamonds in the market as there are earth mined.  When comparing grown versus mined diamonds of similar size, cut, color and clarity, the price of a grown diamond is approximately 30-50% less.

Is one better than the other?

It’s whatever works best for you and your budget.

Some people are drawn to mined diamonds for their natural beauty and the fact they own something so incredibly rare that came directly from the earth.

Those that choose a grown option do so, more often than not, because of price.  For many, a grown stone makes it possible for them to get a larger stone without sacrificing quality or budget.

Call or stop in and let us help you determine which option is best for you.
Schedule An Appointment
Request Additional Information
Carroll's Jewelers
Doylestown Shopping Center
470 N Main St
Doylestown, PA 18901
(215) 345-6277
Store Information
Hours
Monday:Closed
Tuesday - Thursday:10:00am - 6:00pm
Friday:10:00am - 7:00pm
Saturday:10:00am - 4:00pm
Sunday:Closed
Education
  • Jewelry Education
  • The Four Cs of Diamonds
  • Diamond Buying Tips
  • Choosing the Ring
  • Birthstone Guide
  • Gemstone Guide
  • Precious Metals
  • Caring for Fine Jewelry
  • Diamond Cleaning
  • Gemstone Cleaning
  • Anniversary Guide
  • Gold Buying Guide
Information
  • Return Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Financing
Collections
  • ArtCarved
  • Bassali
  • Carla/Nancy B
  • Citizen
  • Desmos
  • Ella Stein
  • Ever & Ever
  • Facet Barcelona
  • Frederick Goldman
  • Gabriel & Co
  • Grown With Love
  • Kamaria
  • Kelly Waters
  • Kin & Pebble
  • Kit Heath
  • Leslie's
  • Levy Creations
  • Lily Nily
  • Overnight
  • Phillip Gavriel
  • Rembrandt Charms
  • Royal Chain
  • Stuller
  • Ti Sento
  • Triton
  • Unique Settings
Shop Jewelry
  • Specials
  • Earrings
  • Bracelets
  • Pendants & Necklaces
  • Rings
  • Pearl Jewelry
  • Charms
  • Chains
  • Gabriel Bridal
  • Gabriel Fashion
  • Childrens Jewelry
  • Gents Jewelry
  • Watches
  • Personalized Jewelry
  • Gift Cards
  • Bangle Bracelets
  • Hoop Earrings
Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Signup for special offers and discounts.

© 2023 Carroll's Jewelers. All Rights Reserved. Website designed, maintained, and hosted by Punchmark. Accessibility Statement.