The 4 Cs of Diamonds Explained: Cut, Colour, Clarity, Carat

Every diamond is graded on four characteristics — Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat. You've probably heard the term "4 Cs" before, but here's what most guides skip: the four aren't equally important. One of them affects how a diamond actually looks far more than the others, and the rest mostly affect price and rarity. Knowing which is which will save you from overpaying for grades that make no visible difference.