The 4Cs Guide of Diamonds

An international measure of quality

Swarovski Created Diamonds Jewelry Read the Buying Guide

What Are the 4Cs of Diamonds?

Universally recognized, the 4Cs are a guiding light in the world of diamonds, helping to determine the quality and value of each stone - the 4Cs stand for color, cut, carat, and clarity. The laboratory grown diamonds in the Swarovski Created Diamonds collections are graded against these 4Cs by IGI, the International Gemological Institute. The laboratory grown diamonds in these collections are of very fine quality: G+ in color and VS+ in clarity.

laboratory grown diamond rings conceptual imagery

What is diamond clarity?

Diamond clarity is a measure of the purity of the stone graded by the visibility of two types of characteristics - inclusions and blemishes. In order to assess clarity, the diamond is inspected under 10x power magnification. The number and nature of external (blemishes), and internal characteristics (inclusions), as well as their size and position, determine the clarity grading.

Clarity Principles and Factors

The clarity of a laboratory grown diamond is judged by its flaws, which means the inclusions and blemishes that give it unique character and charm. Discover more about diamond clarity below.

INTERNALLY FLAWLESS

The highest possible clarity of diamond is an internally flawless (I.F.) stone. These are incredibly rare and most mined and laboratory grown stones have inclusions.

To The Naked Eye

While almost all diamonds are flawed, those graded between I.F. and SI 2 have inclusions that aren’t visible to the naked eye, only under magnification.

Types of Inclusion

The different types of diamond inclusion include feather, pinpoint, cloud, and metallic. Metallic inclusions are only found in laboratory grown diamonds.

A TRICK OF THE LIGHT

Inclusions and blemishes can have an impact on the way a diamond reflects and absorbs the light.

I.F.

Internally flawless

VVS 1

VVS 2

Very very slightly included

VS 1

VS 2

Very slightly included

SI 1

SI 2

Slightly included

I 1

I 2

I 3

Included

Diamond Clarity Chart

Diamond clarity scale and grades

The diamond clarity scale runs from I.F. to I 3 and is based on the number of inclusions and blemishes found in each stone. Diamond clarity grades are determined under standard viewing conditions with 10x magnification; I.F. is used to represent an internally flawless diamond, while at the other end of the diamond clarity chart, I 3 stands for the inclusion of a visible blemish. Truly flawless diamonds are extremely rare – almost all stones, including laboratory grown diamonds, have inclusions of some kind or other.

What is diamond cut?

Cut refers to how a diamond’s facets interact with light to reveal its internal fire. It is the cut that gives each stone its personality, and perfecting the proportions, symmetry, and precision-cut angles of laboratory grown diamonds gives them their brilliant shine.

Cut Principles and Factors

The quality of how a laboratory grown diamond is cut is based on its proportions, symmetry, and polish. An expert cut creates a multitude of facets, absorbing and reflecting the light so the stone shimmers from every angle.

MAXIMUM BRILLIANCE

A diamond cut shape that is perfectly symmetrical with aligned facets will reflect the light at the highest possible intensity, emitting a powerful shine.

DIAMOND CUT CHART

Diamond cuts are graded by the IGI on a scale of Excellent to Poor. An excellent cut requires technical mastery, artistry, and expertise.

EVERY FACET

Facet is the term used to describe each flat surface that makes up the surface of a diamond, each absorbing and dispersing the light differently.

The bEST CUT

While proportion, symmetry, and polish determine a diamond’s place on the diamond cut table, there is no best cut when it comes to a stone that sparks joy.

Colorless

D-F

Near colorless

G-J

Slightly tinted

K-M

Very light color

N-R

Light color

S-Z

Diamond color scale and chart

Diamond coloring is rated on a scale from D to Z, with D clear ice white with no hint of yellow, while those rated Z are shades of yellow and brown. Each letter range on the chart denotes a shade of stone, with those rated D to F appearing colorless, through to S to Z appearing in shades of light yellow or brown. Swarovski only accepts the finest laboratory grown diamonds in its collections, meaning they range from colorless to nearly colorless diamonds (D-G).

Color Principles and Factors

Colorless stones are the most desirable in the world of diamonds and they are extremely rare. Swarovski Created Diamonds are evaluated against the standardized diamond color scale.

COLORLESS DIAMONDS

Truly colorless diamonds are extremely rare. Also known as ice white, D diamonds are also the most expensive diamond color to buy.

FIND YOUR SHADE

Finding a D diamond color isn’t always important when selecting your stone. A warm white might suit your individual style more than an ice white.

VALUTAZIONE REGOLATA

Il grado di colore di ogni diamante viene valutato in laboratorio utilizzando un’illuminazione regolata, con la pietra rivolta verso il basso e con campioni di riferimento utilizzati per il confronto.

IMPERFEZIONI

I diamanti creati in laboratorio non comportano imperfezioni intenzionali o difetti di colore che possono derivare dall'uso di semi di carbonio di qualità inferiore.

Che cos’è il peso in carati del diamante?

Il carato è l’unità utilizzata specificamente per determinare il peso delle pietre preziose, compresi i diamanti creati in laboratorio. Un diamante può avere un peso in carati superiore senza per questo essere di dimensioni maggiori e due diamanti dello stesso peso in carati possono avere dimensioni diverse se uno viene tagliato più in profondità dell’altro. Un carato pesa un quinto di grammo ed è suddiviso in 100 punti.

2,5 mm

0,05 ct

3,0 mm

0,10 ct

3,8 mm

0,20 ct

4,5 mm

0,30 ct

4,8 mm

0,40 ct

5,2 mm

0,50 ct

5,8 mm

0,70 ct

6,3 mm

0,90 ct

6,5 mm

1,00 ct

6,9 mm

1,25 ct

7,4 mm

1,50 ct

7,8 mm

1,75 ct

8,2 mm

2,00 ct

8,8 mm

2,50 ct

9,4 mm

3,00 ct

Peso in carati del diamante

Scala di caratura dei diamanti creati in laboratorio

Il nome della misurazione in carati deriva dalla parola “carruba”, un seme che veniva utilizzato come riferimento per il peso dei diamanti dai commercianti del mondo antico. I carati sono un’unità di misura standard internazionale per il peso di un diamante. Un carato equivale a 200 milligrammi, un diamante da 5 carati pesa dunque un grammo. Il carato del diamante non si riferisce alla dimensione di una pietra ma al suo peso. I diamanti diventano in genere più costosi con l’aumentare della loro caratura.

Scopri i diamanti

Brillantezza eterna

I gioielli Swarovski Created Diamonds segnano l’inizio di un nuovo entusiasmante capitolo. Espandiamo il nostro inconfondibile savoir-faire in nuovi territori multidimensionali ed apriamo nuovi orizzonti alla nostra maestria nel taglio e alle nostre creazioni piene di luce.

Scopri Swarovski Created Diamonds

Immagini impressionistiche di diamanti artificiali

Tutto su Swarovski Created Diamonds

Diamanti creati in laboratorio

Scopri l’universo dei gioielli Swarovski Created Diamonds che ridefiniscono il futuro dei diamanti con eccezionali collezioni e colmano il divario tra tradizione e tendenze attuali. Dalla brillantezza ultraterrena della nostra collezione interstellare alla pura eleganza delle nostre iconiche creazioni, trova il gioiello da custodire per sempre.

Maggiori informazioni sui diamanti creati da Swarovski

Guida all’acquisto di diamanti creati in laboratorio

Trova il gioiello perfetto

Evoluzione naturale del DNA del nostro marchio, i gioielli Swarovski Created Diamonds sono impreziositi da diamanti creati in laboratorio, magistralmente tagliati, di intensa brillantezza, e identici in tutto e per tutto ai loro omologhi estratti in miniera, tranne che per la loro origine. Formati strato dopo strato da un seme di carbonio, riflettono fedelmente la radiosità della natura.

Leggi la nostra Guida all'acquisto di diamanti creati in laboratorio

Che cosa sono i diamanti creati in laboratorio?

I diamanti creati in laboratorio spiegati al pubblico

Scopri di più sui diamanti creati in laboratorio e su come viene replicato il processo di generazione dei diamanti nel sottosuolo. Scopri i diversi tagli di diamanti delle collezioni Swarovski Created Diamonds, nonché l’ispirazione che si cela dietro ciascun modello.

Che cosa sono i diamanti creati in laboratorio?

Frequently asked questions

Diamond 4Cs FAQs

What are the 4Cs?

Every diamond varies slightly from the next and has its own individual distinguishing characteristics. Laboratory grown diamonds are 100% diamonds, and just like mined diamonds our laboratory grown diamonds are evaluated according to the 4Cs of diamond grading. The 4Cs are color, clarity, cut and carat weight, and they are the globally accepted standards used to assess the quality of diamonds.

Is diamond clarity important?

The higher the clarity grading, the less inclusions or blemishes a diamond has, making it a higher-value diamond than one with a lower grading.

What is the highest diamond clarity?

Diamond clarity is a measure of the purity of the stone graded by the visibility of two types of characteristics - inclusions and blemishes.
In order to assess clarity, the diamond is inspected under 10x power magnification. The number and nature of external (blemishes), and internal characteristics (inclusions), as well as their size and position, determine the grade.
Gemologists grade diamonds from Internally Flawless (IF) as the highest quality to Included (I3).

Are laboratory grown diamonds flawless?

No, nearly all diamonds (mined or laboratory grown) have inclusions. Metallic inclusions can occur in laboratory grown diamonds. If an expert spots a trace of metal in a diamond, they can assume it is laboratory grown. While laboratory grown diamonds with defects do exist, Swarovski only uses high quality laboratory grown diamonds certified by the International Gemological Institute (IGI) according to the 4Cs to ensure that only the finest quality diamonds join the Swarovski Created Diamond collections.

Do laboratory grown diamonds get cloudy?

No, laboratory-grown diamonds do not get cloudy over time. They are 100% identical to diamonds with the same physical and chemical properties, and should not degrade or change appearance over time. Where poor quality diamond seeds have been used, some laboratory-grown diamonds contain obvious defects, such as color tinges from impurities in the diamond or crystal structure imperfections. The laboratory grown diamonds processed in Swarovski Created Diamonds jewelry are a very high quality standard and do not have unnatural, problematic characteristics.

How are laboratory grown diamonds certified and graded?

The laboratory grown diamonds processed in Swarovski Created Diamonds jewelry are hand-selected and examined by experienced gemologists to ensure they fulfill our high quality standards. Every piece of jewelry in the Galaxy and Eternity collections is accompanied with a digital laboratory report from the International Gemological Institute (IGI).

What are diamond facets?

Diamond facets refer to each flat surface that creates the shape of a diamond. Every diamond possesses multiple facets that enable it to absorb and reflect light.

How is diamond cut quality determined?

We often think of a diamond’s cut as shape (round, heart, oval, marquise, pear), but what diamond cut actually does mean is how well a diamond’s facets interact with light. The cut of a diamond is the measure of the quality of the shape, geometry and finish of the diamond. Round brilliant diamonds receive a formal cut grade on a scale from Ideal (the best) to Poor. Swarovski is uncompromising on cut quality to ensure all of our laboratory grown diamonds have optimal light performance and sparkle.

What is the best diamond cut?

Cut refers to how a diamond’s facets interact with light to reveal its internal fire. It is the cut that gives each diamond its personality, and perfecting laboratory grown diamonds proportions, symmetry, and precision-cut angles of Swarovski Created Diamonds gives them their brilliant shine. The best cut has a balance between the width and depth to create symmetry, neither to shallow nor to deep. Creating the perfect refraction point for light through the diamond, reflecting it within the diamond and highlighting its polished brightness.

How is a diamond’s color determined?

Color refers to the natural tint inherent in white diamonds. The industry standard for grading color is to evaluate each diamond against a master set then assign a letter grade from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow).
The closer the diamond is to being colorless, the higher its quality.

Do laboratory created diamonds have blemishes?

Se sono stati utilizzati semi di diamante di scarsa qualità, alcuni diamanti creati in laboratorio presentano difetti evidenti, come sfumature di colore dovute a impurità o imperfezioni strutturali. Swarovski non commercializza diamanti creati in laboratorio che presentano caratteristiche innaturali e problematiche.

Che cos’è il peso in carati del diamante?

Il carato è l’unità utilizzata specificamente per determinare il peso delle pietre preziose, compresi i diamanti creati in laboratorio. Un diamante può avere un peso in carati superiore senza per questo essere di dimensioni maggiori, e due diamanti dello stesso peso in carati possono avere dimensioni diverse se uno viene tagliato più in profondità dell’altro. Un carato pesa un quinto di grammo ed è suddiviso in 100 punti.

Che cos’è il peso in carati di un diamante, come si misura e quanto è importante?

Il peso in carati è l’unità di peso standard dei diamanti e la prima caratteristica che viene presa in considerazione per il processo di valutazione. Il peso in carati del diamante è la determinazione del peso del diamante. Ogni carato può essere suddiviso in 100 “punti”. Ciò consente misurazioni precise al centesimo decimale. Il peso di un diamante inferiore a un carato può essere definito esclusivamente dai suoi “punti”. Più grande è il diamante, maggiori saranno i carati, ma solo tu puoi decidere che importanza dare alla grandezza.

È meglio avere un diamante di caratura superiore?

Questa è una questione del tutto personale. Se desideri un diamante più grande, opta per una caratura superiore poiché questa indica il peso e quindi la dimensione del diamante.