Diamond education
Know your diamond
The 4Cs
Four things that shape every diamond
Cut
How well a diamond's facets return light. It is the C that most affects sparkle, and the one we never compromise on.
We recommend
Color
Graded from D, completely colorless, to Z, a light yellow or brown. Most people cannot tell neighboring grades apart once set.
ColorlessNear colorlessFaintVery lightLight
Clarity
Tiny natural marks inside or on a diamond. An eye-clean stone, with nothing visible without magnification, is usually the best value.
FlawlessVery very slightVery slightSlightIncluded
Carat
A diamond's weight. Size on the hand also depends on shape and cut, so two stones of the same carat can face up differently.
0.5 ct5.2 mm round
1 ct6.5 mm round
1.5 ct7.4 mm round
2 ct8.2 mm round
3 ct9.4 mm round
Natural & lab-grown
The same diamond, two origins
| Natural | Lab-grown | |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Formed in the earth over billions of years | Grown in a laboratory over weeks |
| Composition | Pure crystallized carbon | Pure crystallized carbon, chemically and optically the same |
| Grading | Graded on the 4Cs by an independent lab | Graded on the 4Cs by an independent lab, with a lab-grown inscription |
| Price | Higher for the same size and quality | Typically lower for the same size and quality |
| Rarity | Finite and rare | Produced to order |
Grading reports
Read a grading report with us
What every line on a GIA or IGI report means, and how Lorelaii's diamond grading training guides each stone we recommend.
Browse natural diamondsLab-grown diamonds