The 4Cs Guide of Diamonds

An international measure of quality

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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.

CONTROLLED ASSESSMENT

Each diamond’s color grade is assessed in a laboratory using controlled lighting, with the stone faced down, and with master samples used for comparison.

BLEMISHES

Laboratory grown diamonds do not include any intentional blemishes or the color defects that can come from the use of poorer quality carbon seeds.

What is diamond carat weight?

A carat is a unit of weight used specifically to measure precious stones including laboratory grown diamonds. A diamond may have a higher carat weight without appearing larger, and two diamonds of the same carat weight can vary in size if one is cut deeper than the other. One carat weighs 1/5 of a gram and is divided into 100 points.

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

Diamond Carat Weight

Laboratory Grown Diamond Carat Scale

The carat measurement is derived by the word ‘carob’, a seed that was used as a diamond weight reference for traders in the ancient world. Carats are an international standard unit of measurement for the weight of a diamond. One carat is equal to 200 milligrams, so a 5 carat diamond will weigh one gram. The diamond carat does not refer to the size of a stone, simply how much it weighs. Diamonds usually become more expensive as their carat increases.

Discover Diamonds

Forever Brilliance

Swarovski Created Diamonds jewelry herald the start of an exciting new chapter. Expanding our unmistakable savoir-faire into multidimensional new territories and breaking new ground in our mastery of cut and light-filled creation.

Discover Swarovski Created Diamonds

man made diamonds impressionistic imagery

All About Swarovski Created Diamonds

Laboratory Grown Diamonds

Discover the world of Swarovski Created Diamonds jewelry, redefining the future of diamonds with exceptional collections that bridge the gap between tradition and current trends. From the otherworldly brilliance of our interstellar collection to the pure elegance of our signature pieces, find a style that will last a lifetime.

Laboratory Grown Diamonds Buying Guide

Find the perfect piece

A natural progression of our brand DNA, Swarovski Created Diamonds jewelry are laboratory grown diamonds, masterfully cut, intensely bright, and identical to their mined counterparts in every way but origin. Formed layer by layer from a carbon seed, they serve as a flawless reflection of nature’s radiance.

Read our Laboratory Grown Diamonds Buying Guide

What are Laboratory Grown Diamonds?

Laboratory Grown Diamonds explained

Find out more about diamonds that are grown in a laboratory, and how the process of replicating the way diamonds are formed in the earth is achieved. Discover the different cuts of diamonds in the Swarovski Created Diamond Collections, as well as the inspiration behind the designs.

What are Laboratory Grown Diamonds?

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?

I diamanti creati in laboratorio elaborati nei gioielli Swarovski Created Diamonds vengono selezionati manualmente ed esaminati da gemmologi esperti per garantire che soddisfino i nostri elevati standard di qualità. Ogni gioiello delle collezioni Galaxy ed Eternity è accompagnato da un rapporto di laboratorio digitale redatto dall’Istituto Gemmologico Internazionale (IGI).

Che cosa sono le sfaccettature del diamante?

Le sfaccettature del diamante si riferiscono ad ognisuperficie piana che crea la forma di un diamante. Ogni diamante presenta molteplici sfaccettature che gli consentono di assorbire e riflettere la luce.

Come si determina la qualità del taglio del diamante?

Spesso si pensa al taglio di un diamante come alla sua forma (rotonda, a cuore, ovale, marchesa, pera), ma il taglio del diamante si riferisce in realtà alla qualità dell’interazione delle sue sfaccettature con la luce. Il taglio di un diamante è la sintesi della qualità della forma, della geometria e della finitura del diamante. I diamanti rotondi e brillanti vengono classificati formalmente su una scala che varia da Ideal (il migliore) a Poor (di scarsa qualità). Swarovski non scende a compromessi quando si tratta della qualità del taglio e garantisce che tutti i nostri diamanti creati in laboratorio offrano una resa di luce e una brillantezza ottimali.

Qual è il miglior taglio di diamante?

Il taglio si riferisce al modo in cui le sfaccettature del diamante interagiscono con la luce per rivelarne il fulgore interiore. Il taglio conferisce ad ogni diamante una personalità unica, mentre il perfezionamento delle proporzioni, la simmetria e le angolazioni tagliate con precisione degli Swarovski Created Diamonds conferiscono loro una brillante lucentezza. Il taglio migliore presenta un equilibrio tra larghezza e profondità per creare simmetria; inoltre, non è né troppo superficiale né troppo profondo, ma crea il punto perfetto di rifrazione della luce attraverso il diamante, riflettendola all'interno dello stesso e mettendone in evidenza la brillante lucidatura.

Come viene determinato il colore di un diamante?

Il colore si riferisce alla tinta naturale inerente ai diamanti bianchi. Lo standard industriale per la classificazione del colore consiste nel valutare ogni diamante rispetto a un set di riferimento e nell’assegnare un voto in lettere da D (incolore) a Z (giallo chiaro).
Più il diamante si avvicina all'incolore, più la sua qualità è elevata.

I diamanti creati in laboratorio presentano imperfezioni?

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.