Every diamond, lab-grown or mined, is described by the same four qualities: cut, color, clarity and carat. Understanding them takes about five minutes and can save you a lot of money, because the best-looking diamond isn't always the most expensive one.
1. Cut: the most important C
Cut isn't the shape of the diamond (round, oval, emerald and so on). It's how well the diamond's facets are angled and proportioned to reflect light. A well-cut diamond returns light to your eye as brilliance (white sparkle) and fire (flashes of color). A poorly cut diamond can look dull or glassy even with excellent color and clarity.
Our advice: never compromise on cut. Every LUXEIGA center diamond is Excellent cut, the top grade, so it sparkles the way a diamond should.
2. Color: from icy white to warm
Diamond color is graded on a scale from D (completely colorless) to Z (noticeable yellow or brown tint).
- D–F, colorless: the rarest and iciest white.
- G–H, near colorless: any tint is very hard to see once the diamond is set. This is often the best value.
- I–J, near colorless: a faint warmth that can look beautiful in yellow or rose gold.
Tip: white gold and platinum show color more easily, so G or better looks best. Yellow and rose gold are more forgiving.
3. Clarity: tiny natural marks
Clarity measures the tiny internal features (inclusions) and surface marks (blemishes) that almost every diamond has. The scale runs from FL (flawless) through IF, VVS1–VVS2, VS1–VS2, SI1–SI2 to I1–I3.
The key phrase is eye-clean: a diamond with no inclusions you can see without magnification. Most VS1 and VS2 diamonds are eye-clean, and they cost noticeably less than VVS or flawless stones. Step-cut shapes such as emerald and asscher show clarity more, so a slightly higher grade is worth it there.
4. Carat: weight, not size
Carat is a measure of weight: one carat is 0.2 grams. Two diamonds of the same carat weight can look different in size depending on their shape and cut. Elongated shapes like oval, pear and marquise tend to look larger face-up than a round diamond of the same weight.
Prices jump at popular sizes such as 1.00 and 1.50 carats. A diamond just under (for example 0.95 carats) looks the same on the hand and can cost less.
Where to spend your budget
- Cut first. It drives sparkle more than anything else.
- Carat second. Choose the size that feels right for her hand and style.
- Color and clarity to "looks perfect," not "is perfect": near colorless and eye-clean grades give the best balance of beauty and value.
With lab-grown diamonds, these choices go much further than with mined diamonds, so many couples are able to choose a larger diamond or a higher grade for the same budget. Read more in lab-grown vs mined diamonds.
Always ask for a grading report
A grading report from an independent gemological laboratory confirms a diamond's cut, color, clarity and carat. Every LUXEIGA center diamond comes with one.
Ready to compare? Browse certified lab-grown diamonds in our ring builder, filter by shape, carat and grade, and see your finished ring in 3D.