The "4Cs" of a diamond stand for Carat, Cut, Clarity and Color. These are the basic characteristics of a diamond that determine their true value. Each characteristic has its own unique contribution in determing the quality, size and looks of the diamond.

Carat is a unit of weight for diamonds and other gemstones. One carat is equal to 200 milligrams. Carats are used to measure the weight of diamonds and other gemstones. The bigger the diamond, the more expensive it is.

A one-carat diamond is twice as big as a half-carat diamond and costs four times as much. Most engagement rings have a single diamond, or solitaire. The average weight of a solitaire engagement ring is one carat.

A diamond's cut is extremely important in determining its beauty and overall value. The most popular cut for diamonds is the round cut, which has 58 facets (or small faces). Round diamonds typically have an "excellent" or "ideal" cut rating.

Other popular shapes include the princess cut, emerald cut, and pear shape. A well-cut diamond will appear brighter and more sparkly than a poorly-cut one of the same carat weight.

A diamond's color is determined by its chemical composition and how light is absorbed & reflected back to the viewer. While most people think of diamonds as being white or colorless, they can actually be found in a wide range of colors, from pale yellow to deep brown.

The most valuable diamonds are usually those that are completely colorless.

When looking at a diamond, it is important to understand the clarity of the stone. Diamonds are graded on a scale from internall flawless (IF) to included (I3), with IF being the highest quality and I3 being the lowest quality.

A diamond is considered internally flawless if there are no spots or imperfections visible to the naked eye & is considered slightly included if there are a few small spots or imperfections visible to the naked eye.