A diamond’s cut and its shape are often confused, but we’re here to help! A diamond’s shape refers to its outline when viewed face up. A diamond’s cut refers to its facet arrangement.

The prospect of purchasing a diamond may seem daunting, but through GIA, an unbiased authority on diamonds, you have several handy resources to help you select the highest quality diamond. First up, an overview of the 4Cs: Color, Clarity, Cut, and Carat Weight.

Here is a simple reference guide designed to help anyone shopping for a diamond understand the 4Cs of Diamond Quality; color, clarity, cut and carat weight.

This guide will help you navigate and understand the relative quality differences that exist on the color, clarity and cut grading scales.