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Diamond Education Guide
What actually matters, explained clearly
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The 4 Cs are Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight. Established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), they are the universal standards used to evaluate and communicate a diamond's quality. Understanding how the four interact matters more than optimizing any single grade.
Every diamond on the market is evaluated against these four criteria. The grades appear on a diamond grading report, most commonly issued by GIA or IGI, and they give buyers a consistent way to compare stones across different jewelers and price points. But grades on paper don't always translate directly to what you see with your eyes, which is why seeing diamonds in person under professional lighting remains one of the most useful steps in the process.
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Cut matters most for visual beauty and sparkle. A diamond's cut grade determines how effectively it handles light, and a poorly cut diamond will underperform a well-cut one regardless of its color or clarity grade. That said, 'most important' depends on what you're prioritizing. Here's how each C affects the real-world experience of wearing a diamond:
Cut
Cut is the only C that's entirely determined by human craft. It refers to the precision and proportions of a diamond's facets, which control how light enters, reflects, and exits the stone. A well-cut diamond returns light evenly through the top, producing brightness (white light), fire (colored flashes), and scintillation (the sparkle when the stone moves). An excellent cut grade is worth protecting even if it means adjusting other criteria.
In practice, cut is what separates a diamond that lights up a room from one that looks glassy or flat. For this reason, many experts, including our team, consider cut the most important of the 4 Cs when it comes to visual beauty.
Color
Diamond color is graded on a scale from D (colorless) to Z (visible warmth). For most engagement rings, the relevant range is D through J. D, E, and F are colorless and command a price premium. G through J are near-colorless, where differences are subtle to the naked eye but increasingly noticeable as you move down the scale.
Metal choice affects how color reads in a finished ring. A G or H diamond set in yellow gold faces a warm background that softens any trace of warmth in the stone. The same diamond in platinum reads differently. This is one of the more useful practical considerations that grading reports can't show you.Clarity
Clarity grades the internal characteristics (inclusions) and surface features (blemishes) present in a diamond. These form naturally during the stone's growth and are part of what makes each diamond distinct. The GIA clarity scale runs from Flawless (no inclusions visible under 10x magnification) down through various grades of Very Slightly Included, Slightly Included, and Included.
Most customers land on VS2 or SI1 as a practical range: stones where inclusions exist but are not visible to the naked eye. The term for this is eye-clean, and it's a more useful frame than a specific grade. An eye-clean SI1 may be a better value than a VS2 with less desirable cut proportions.
One nuance worth knowing: the eye-clean threshold differs by shape. Step-cut diamonds like emerald and asscher cuts have open, mirror-like facets that make inclusions easier to spot. Brilliant cuts, by contrast, use light return and pattern to mask inclusions more effectively. This means an eye-clean SI1 round brilliant is a more reasonable expectation than an eye-clean SI1 emerald cut.Carat Weight
Carat measures weight, not physical size. One carat equals 200 milligrams. Two diamonds of the same carat weight can appear quite different in size depending on their cut proportions and shape. A round brilliant cut to ideal proportions carries more of its weight in the crown, where you see it. A deeply cut stone carries weight in the base, where you don't.
Shape also affects perceived size. Elongated shapes like oval, pear, and marquise tend to read as larger per carat than round brilliants of the same weight, because they cover more surface area on the finger. This is one of the reasons oval engagement rings have grown significantly in popularity.At Day’s Jewelers, we believe education builds confidence. That’s why we show diamonds side by side under professional lighting so you can see how the 4 Cs impact real-world appearance, not just grading reports.
If you’d like to explore diamonds in person or receive a complimentary diamond education consultation, we invite you to visit one of our store locations or learn more through our Diamond Education resources. -
A GIA certificate is a diamond grading report issued by the Gemological Institute of America, the world's most widely recognized and respected diamond grading laboratory. It independently evaluates a diamond's Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight using standardized methodology, providing an objective benchmark that doesn't depend on the seller's assessment.
A GIA report matters because it gives you a reliable, third-party evaluation of what you're buying. Two diamonds with the same grade from two different sellers may look and perform differently in person, but a GIA report at least ensures the grading methodology is consistent and credible. It's the closest thing to a universal language in diamond evaluation.
GIA does not sell diamonds. It only grades them. That independence is what makes the certification meaningful.
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An IGI (International Gemological Institute) certificate is a diamond grading report that evaluates the same 4 Cs as GIA. IGI is widely used, particularly for lab-grown diamonds. GIA is generally considered the more conservative grading standard, meaning an IGI-graded stone may receive a slightly higher color or clarity grade than GIA would assign the same stone.
This grading variance has practical implications. A stone certified as VS1 by IGI may grade as VS2 by GIA standards. When comparing prices across certificates, it's worth factoring in which lab issued the report. For natural diamonds, GIA certification is typically the preferred standard among jewelers and appraisers. For lab-grown diamonds, both GIA and IGI certifications are widely accepted, and IGI is the more common issuer.
Our team can walk you through both standards and help you compare stones across certificates in a way that accounts for these differences.
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Diamond fluorescence refers to a diamond's tendency to emit a soft glow, most often blue, when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light. Fluorescence is graded on GIA reports as None, Faint, Medium, Strong, or Very Strong. It has no impact on a diamond's durability and a limited, situational impact on its appearance.
Strong blue fluorescence can occasionally make a diamond appear milky or hazy in certain lighting. In other situations, particularly for lower-color diamonds in the I-J range, faint to medium fluorescence can actually neutralize slight warmth, making the stone appear whiter to the eye.
The practical guidance: fluorescence is worth understanding but rarely a deciding factor. It affects some stones noticeably and others not at all. Seeing the specific stone in different lighting conditions tells you more than the grade on the report.
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Prioritize cut quality above the other Cs, then find the minimum color and clarity grades where differences are no longer visible to the naked eye. Paying for differences you can't see is where most buyers overspend.
In practice, this often means targeting a G or H color in near-colorless, an SI1 or VS2 clarity that is eye-clean for the specific shape you're considering, and using the budget freed up from color and clarity to protect cut quality or carat size.
A few specific considerations that can shift value meaningfully: carat weight just below round numbers, like
0.90ct instead of 1.00ct, often costs significantly less with no visible difference in size. Certain shapes, particularly oval and elongated cuts, tend to appear larger per carat than rounds, which can stretch a budget further. And for stones set in yellow or rose gold, color grades G through J perform well without the premium attached to colorless grades.The most useful thing we can do is show you two diamonds of different grades side by side and let you make the call with your own eyes rather than a grading report.
Working with a trusted jeweler ensures you’re investing in what actually matters visually, rather than paying for differences you won’t see. Our team can guide you through this process in-store or through a personal consultation.
Natural vs. Lab-Grown Diamonds
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Yes. Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds. They share the same chemical composition (pure carbon), the same crystal structure, the same hardness (10 on the Mohs scale), and the same optical properties as natural diamonds. The only difference is how they were formed.
Natural diamonds formed over billions of years beneath the earth's surface under extreme heat and pressure. Lab-grown diamonds are created in controlled environments over a period of weeks using one of two methods: High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT), which replicates the natural formation process, or Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), which builds a diamond layer by layer from a carbon-rich gas.
The result in both cases is a diamond. Not a diamond simulant like cubic zirconia or moissanite, both of which have different chemical compositions. A lab-grown diamond cut to the same proportions as a natural diamond of the same grade will perform identically in terms of sparkle and light return.
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Natural diamonds formed over billions of years in the earth and are finite in supply. Lab-grown diamonds are produced in controlled environments over weeks and can be created in increasing quantities. Both are chemically identical, but they differ in origin, rarity, and long-term value trajectory.
The distinction that matters most to buyers typically falls into two categories: what the diamond represents, and what it holds over time.
Natural diamonds carry a geological story. The stone on your hand formed somewhere between one and three billion years ago under conditions that no longer exist in the same way. That origin is part of what gives natural diamonds their lasting rarity, and rarity is what has historically underpinned their value retention.
Lab-grown diamonds don't carry that geological narrative, but they offer something different: the ability to acquire a larger or higher-quality stone for the same investment. Because production can scale with demand, lab-grown diamond prices have decreased significantly over the past decade and are likely to continue doing so.
Neither is the wrong choice. The right one depends on what matters most to you. Understanding these differences can help you narrow down your options when browsing our engagement ring selection.
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Natural diamonds have historically retained value more consistently than lab-grown diamonds, primarily because of their finite supply. Lab-grown diamond prices have declined significantly as production technology has improved and supply has increased, making long-term resale value less predictable.
This doesn't mean lab-grown diamonds are a poor purchase. For customers whose priority is the diamond they're wearing rather than its resale potential, the value calculation is different. A lab-grown diamond at a lower price point may allow you to choose a stone you wouldn't otherwise be able to afford, which is a meaningful trade-off for many couples.
For customers who think about a diamond as something that may be upgraded, repassed, or resold over time, a natural diamond's historical value stability is a more relevant consideration. It's also worth noting that Day's Diamond Upgrade Plan, available on qualified purchases, can provide flexibility regardless of which direction you choose. Your consultant can explain the specifics.
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Neither is objectively better. Natural diamonds offer geological rarity and historically stronger long-term value. Lab-grown diamonds offer the same physical properties at a lower price point, with the trade-off of less predictable value retention. The better choice depends entirely on what the buyer values most.
What we've seen in conversations with customers across Maine and New Hampshire: people who connect deeply with the origin story of a natural diamond rarely feel at peace with a lab-grown alternative, even when the visual result is identical. And people who are focused on maximizing the stone they can wear within a given budget often find lab-grown the clearer choice.
Both options deserve a fair look side by side. That's how we approach it.
Diamond Care and Maintenance
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A diamond itself cannot lose its optical properties over time. Its hardness and light performance are permanent. What diminishes sparkle is surface buildup from oils, lotions, soap residue, and daily contact, all of which create a film that prevents light from entering and reflecting properly.
The fix is straightforward. Regular cleaning, whether at home or professionally, restores a diamond's light return quickly. The stone hasn't changed. It just needs a clear surface to do what it does.
All of our store locations offer complimentary ring cleaning services.
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To clean a diamond ring at home, soak it briefly in warm water mixed with a small amount of mild dish soap, then use a soft-bristled brush to gently scrub around the setting and beneath the stone. Rinse thoroughly under warm running water and dry with a lint-free cloth.
A few things to avoid: ultrasonic cleaners can loosen stones in certain settings, particularly pavé or channel-set diamonds. Harsh chemicals including bleach, chlorine, and acetone can damage metal finishes and weaken prongs over time. When in doubt, professional cleaning is always the safer option and takes only a few minutes in-store.
Cleaning frequency depends on how you wear the ring. Daily wear picks up buildup quickly. A quick clean every two to three weeks keeps most rings performing well between professional inspections.
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Diamond rings worn daily should be professionally inspected every six to twelve months. An inspection checks prong integrity, stone security, metal wear, and overall structural condition before any small issue becomes a larger one.
Prongs wear down gradually with daily contact. A prong that has thinned significantly is one that's closer to releasing a stone. The cost of an inspection is minimal compared to the cost of replacing a lost diamond. Most jewelers, including our locations, include inspection as part of ongoing customer care.
If you notice any movement in the center stone, a change in how the ring sits, or a prong that looks visibly flattened, don't wait for the six-month interval. Bring it in.
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Remove a diamond ring before activities that involve chemicals, heavy physical impact, or situations where the ring could be damaged or lost: cleaning with harsh products, working with machinery, swimming in chlorinated pools or the ocean, heavy lifting, or any work where the ring might catch on surfaces or equipment.
Diamonds are the hardest natural material on earth, but that hardness refers to scratch resistance, not impact resistance. A sharp blow to certain orientations of a diamond can chip or cleave it. This is especially true for shapes with pointed tips like princess, pear, and marquise cuts, which are more vulnerable at the corners.
Building a consistent habit around when the ring comes off protects it far more effectively than any setting choice.
Buying with Confidence
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Before buying a diamond, understand the 4 Cs and how they interact, determine which trade-offs align with your priorities, verify that any diamond you're considering comes with a reputable grading certificate, and work with a jeweler who will show you stones side by side rather than selling from a grading report alone.
The most useful preparation is knowing your own priorities before you walk in. If you haven't decided whether sparkle, size, or long-term value matters most, the conversation will be longer and potentially less focused. Coming in with a sense of direction, even a rough one, makes the comparison process more productive.
Ask to see more than one stone. Ask what the consultant would prioritize with your budget. Ask what the return and upgrade policies look like. A jeweler who answers those questions clearly and without pressure is one who's worth trusting.
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When buying a diamond, ask about the cut grade and how it compares to other stones in the same price range, whether the stone is eye-clean for its shape, what grading laboratory issued the certificate, what the return and upgrade policies are, and what ongoing services the jeweler provides after purchase.
A few questions that often don't get asked but should: Does the stone have fluorescence, and how does it look under UV and natural light? Where does the inclusion sit in this specific stone, and is it in a position that a prong could cover? How does this diamond look next to one that costs 10% more and one that costs 10% less?
The goal isn't to interrogate the consultant. It's to understand the stone specifically rather than the grade generally. Those two things are related but not the same.
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Where you buy a diamond determines the quality of guidance you receive, the accuracy of the information you're given, the services available to you after purchase, and the reliability of the relationship over time. A diamond is a long-term purchase. The jeweler should be too.
The things that differentiate jewelers aren't always visible in a product page or a price comparison. They show up in the consultation: whether the consultant explains trade-offs honestly, whether they show you stones at different price points, whether they tell you when a lower-graded stone performs better than a higher-graded one. These are signals of genuine expertise, and they're worth paying attention to.
At Day's, our consultants are trained to put education before sales. GIA-trained staff are on hand at our locations to guide diamond evaluation with a standard that doesn't bend toward a particular sale. We've been doing this long enough to know that a customer who feels confident about what they chose is the only outcome that builds a lasting relationship.
You can begin your search online through our engagement ring collections, or experience the difference in person by visiting one of our store locations.
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Yes. Day's Jewelers offers a Diamond Upgrade Plan on qualified purchases, which allows customers to apply the value of their original diamond toward a larger or higher-quality stone at a future date.
The upgrade program reflects how we think about the relationship with a customer. A diamond purchased today may not be the last diamond you own. Milestones happen. Anniversaries come. The program is designed to make that next chapter feel like a continuation rather than a fresh start.
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A diamond, whether natural or lab-grown, is made of pure carbon in a specific crystal structure and is the hardest naturally occurring material. A diamond simulant looks similar to a diamond but has a different chemical composition and different optical and physical properties. Common simulants include cubic zirconia and moissanite.
Cubic zirconia is made of zirconium dioxide. It's significantly less hard than diamond, more prone to scratching and surface wear over time, and reflects light differently. An experienced eye can distinguish CZ from diamond without equipment.
Moissanite is made of silicon carbide and is the closest simulant to diamond in terms of hardness and brilliance. It actually has a higher refractive index than diamond, which gives it a different kind of sparkle, often described as more rainbow-like or fiery. Some customers love this quality. Others find it reads differently than a diamond. Seeing both in person resolves the question quickly.
Neither simulant is inherently inferior. They're simply different materials with different properties and different price points. The relevant question is what you want the stone to be, not just what it looks like.
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An eye-clean diamond is one in which inclusions are not visible to the naked eye when the stone is viewed face-up at a normal viewing distance of approximately six to twelve inches. Eye-clean is a practical standard used to identify the minimum clarity grade worth considering without paying for clarity that has no visible benefit.
Eye-clean is not a graded term on a certificate. It's a judgment call that depends on the specific stone, its
shape, and where inclusions are positioned. Two diamonds with the same SI1 clarity grade can have very different eye-clean results depending on whether the inclusion sits in the center of the table or near the edge, and whether it's masked by the facet pattern of the cut.Step-cut shapes like emerald and asscher are less forgiving. Their broad, flat facets act like mirrors and make inclusions easier to see. Brilliant cuts, including round, oval, and cushion, scatter light in patterns that mask inclusions more effectively. This practical difference is why an eye-clean standard shifts depending on the shape you're considering.