The four Cs: Cut, Carat, Colour and Clarity.
Many are familiar with the four Cs – cut, carat, colour and clarity – or in Norwegian: slip, carat, farge og klarhet. These are important value factors, but they do not tell the whole story. A diamond's beauty is not always apparent from what can be read in a certificate from a gemological laboratory. There are variations within each value factor, and two diamonds with the same grading can be perceived very differently.
How to Choose the Right Diamond?
Which qualities are most important depends on your personal preferences. Some want a larger diamond and are willing to choose slightly lower clarity or color. Others prefer a diamond with a more golden hue, while some want it completely colorless. Regardless of which factors are most important to you, this is precisely where our expertise comes in. We help you find the diamond that best matches your wishes, priorities, and budget.
Ultimately, it is your experience of the diamond's beauty, light, and brilliance that matters most. Therefore, we recommend that you do not choose based solely on the certificate. Feel free to look at several diamonds and compare them before you decide. This will give you a better basis for finding the diamond that feels just right. We also recommend that you book an appointment with our gemologist, who can help guide you through all these value factors.
A piece of diamond jewelry is more than just jewelry – it is an emotional investment in yourself or someone you care about. With the right choice, it can become a valuable memory that lasts for generations.
Karat
Carat is a unit of measurement for weight, not size. One carat is equivalent to 0.20 grams.
The value of a diamond does not increase proportionally with its weight. A 2.00 ct diamond is significantly rarer than a 1.00 ct diamond, and will therefore often have a value more than double that, assuming other quality factors are equal.
Many associate carat with the physical size of the diamond, but two diamonds with the same carat weight can have different dimensions. Differences in proportions and cut can affect the diameter, height, and how the diamond is perceived visually.
In the diamond market, there are also so-called "magic thresholds." When a diamond passes popular weight classes such as 1.00 ct, 1.50 ct, or 2.00 ct, its rarity increases significantly, which often leads to a marked jump in price.
Slip
Cut is the most important factor for a diamond's brilliance, fire, and light reflection. Even a diamond with a high color and clarity grade will appear lifeless if it is not cut optimally. The term "cut" describes both the shape of the diamond and the quality of the craftsmanship. The quality is assessed based on factors such as proportions, symmetry, and polish. These factors determine how light travels through the diamond and reflects back to the eye. A diamond with an Excellent grade is cut within very strict criteria, ensuring optimal light utilization. With lower cut quality, more light escapes through the sides or bottom of the diamond—and the diamond will be perceived as "lifeless." If the goal is maximum beauty and brilliance, we recommend prioritizing cut quality. A perfect cut can make a much greater visual difference than small improvements in other quality factors such as clarity and color.
Slip Forms
The round brilliant cut stone is the most popular and generally provides the most brilliance back to the eye. Other sought-after shapes include:
• Oval
• Cushion
• Princess
• Emerald
• Pear
Some shapes, such as oval and pear, can give the impression of a larger size than the actual carat weight suggests. At the same time, inclusions will often be more visible in cuts with fewer and larger facets, such as the emerald cut.
Color
Very few natural diamonds are completely colorless. Most contain small amounts of color, usually in the form of yellow or brown tints. The less color a diamond has, the rarer it is – and therefore more valuable. Even slight differences in shade can have a significant impact on both appearance and price.
The most internationally recognized grading scale was developed by the GIA and ranges from:
•D – completely colorless
•Z – clearly visible light yellow or brown tone
In addition, traditional trade terms are often used, such as:
•River (D–E)
•Top Wesselton (F–G)
•Wesselton (H)
Selection of Metal
The choice of setting affects how the color is perceived.
White gold and platinum highlight colorless diamonds, and are therefore the best choice when you have diamonds that are colorless and high on the color scale. If you have a diamond that is slightly lower on the color scale, which often has a slightly more yellow or warm tone, it may be wise to choose yellow gold or rose gold. This creates less contrast, so the stone may be perceived as more colorless than it is graded.
It is also important to note that the color becomes more visible in larger diamonds and in cuts with fewer facets.
Champagne diamonds are characterized by warm tones ranging from light champagne to deep cognac. Together with yellow and rose gold, they create a sophisticated and exclusive look that suits many skin tones. These diamonds also have a lower value, so you can often get a good size diamond at a more affordable price than those that are colorless.
Black diamonds get their characteristic color from a high content of natural inclusions. Many black diamonds on the market are treated to enhance the color. Their intense luster and opaque character provide a modern and striking look.
Moving away from the normal color scale, one finds naturally colored diamonds, which are among the world's rarest diamonds. These diamonds come in colors that can be yellow, pink, blue, green, and red.
The value is largely determined by the intensity and rarity of the color. These diamonds are also so rare that in larger sizes, they are most often sold at international auction houses.
Clarity
Clarity describes the presence of natural inclusions and internal characteristics within a diamond.
Almost all natural diamonds contain traces of minerals, growth structures, or small fissures that formed as the diamond crystallized deep within the earth's crust. Completely pure and flawless diamonds are extremely rare.
When grading clarity, the diamond grader assesses the number of inclusions, their size, the type of inclusions, where they are located, and how visible they are.
The clarity scale ranges from:
FL (Flawless) to I3 (Included)
In diamonds with a clarity grade of SI1 or higher, inclusions are generally not visible to the naked eye. Therefore, we recommend evaluating the diamond visually rather than focusing solely on the grade. Although many people think that there is something wrong with the stone, we at Langaard prefer to see it as part of its identity. It is something that comes from nature, making every single diamond unique.
It is also important to note that certain inclusions that may extend to the surface of the diamond can affect the stone's durability. This can make it more susceptible to damage when worn, especially in rings and bracelets.
Kimberley Process
The Kimberley Process (Certification Scheme) is an international certification scheme established in 2003 to prevent trade in conflict diamonds. The scheme sets requirements for documented origin and traceability in the trade of rough diamonds and currently encompasses virtually the entire global diamond industry. Over 99% of the world's rough diamond production is traded within the framework of the Kimberley Process. Although the scheme is continuously being developed to strengthen control and traceability, it currently represents the most important international standard for the responsible trade of rough diamonds. At Langaard, we exclusively purchase diamonds from reputable and legitimate suppliers who follow the Kimberley Process guidelines and applicable international requirements for ethical trade.
