0%
The 4Cs — Cut, Colour, Clarity, and Carat Weight — are the universal language of diamond quality. Developed by GIA, this system allows anyone to understand exactly what they are buying. At NEO DIAM, we stock diamonds across the full spectrum of all four characteristics, giving our clients complete flexibility.
The cut refers to how well the diamond's facets interact with light — creating brilliance, fire, and scintillation. An expertly cut diamond reflects light beautifully, regardless of its colour or clarity grade.
| GIA Cut Grade | Light Performance |
|---|---|
| Excellent (EX) Optimal proportions. Maximum brilliance. |
Outstanding ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Very Good (VG) Slightly less precise. Excellent value. |
Very Good ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Good (G) Reflects most light. More affordable. |
Good ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Fair / Poor Light escapes. Dull appearance. |
Fair / Poor ⭐ |
Graded from D (completely colourless) to Z (light yellow or brown). The less colour a diamond has, the rarer and more valuable it is.
| Grades | Category | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| D – F | Colourless | Premium choice. Ideal for platinum settings. |
| G – J | Near Colourless | Best value range. Most popular category. |
| K – M | Faint Yellow | Budget-friendly. Beautiful in yellow gold. |
| N – Z | Light Yellow | Budget-conscious or vintage-style jewellery. |
Refers to the absence of inclusions (internal) and blemishes (external). Virtually all natural diamonds contain some identifying characteristics.
| Grade | Description | Eye Clean? |
|---|---|---|
| FL / IF | Flawless / Internally Flawless. No inclusions visible under 10x. | Yes |
| VVS1 / VVS2 | Very Very Slightly Included. Extremely difficult to see under 10x. | Yes |
| VS1 / VS2 | Very Slightly Included. Minor inclusions, difficult to see under 10x. | Yes |
| SI1 / SI2 | Slightly Included. Inclusions visible under 10x. SI1 usually eye-clean. | Sometimes |
One carat equals 0.2 grams. Larger diamonds are rarer, but two diamonds of equal carat weight can have different values depending on cut, colour, and clarity.
| Weight | Diameter (Round) | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| 0.01 – 0.50 ct | ~1.3mm to 5.2mm | Natural & Lab-Grown |
| 1.00 – 3.00 ct | ~6.5mm to 9.4mm | Natural & Lab-Grown |
| 5.00 ct | ~11.0 mm | Natural & Lab-Grown |
| 10.00 – 20.00+ ct | ~14.0mm to 18.0mm+ | Lab-Grown Only |
While round brilliants remain the most popular, fancy shapes offer unique personalities and can appear larger per carat.
Classic · Timeless · Max Brilliance
57 facets. Most studied and optimised
cut. Most popular worldwide.
Modern · Geometric · Bold
Square shape with pointed corners. Second most
popular globally.
Romantic · Soft · Vintage
Rounded corners and large facets. Available in
square or elongated.
Elegant · Elongated · Brilliant
Elongated shape makes fingers look
longer. High brilliance.
Sophisticated · Art Deco · Bold
Step-cut facets create a 'hall of
mirrors' effect. Clarity is very important.
Unique · Feminine · Distinctive
Teardrop shape. Can be set with the point
up or down.
Dramatic · Bold · Elongating
Boat-shaped. French royal origin. Largest
face-up of all shapes.
Brilliant · Versatile · Modern
Combines the brilliance of a round cut
with the shape of an emerald.
Vintage · Geometric · Distinctive
Square step-cut with cropped corners.
Very distinctive Art Deco look.
Romantic · Symbolic · Unique
Ultimate symbol of love. Requires high
colour and clarity grades.
A diamond certificate is an objective assessment of a diamond's quality, issued by an independent gemological laboratory. NEO DIAM supplies diamonds certified by the world's most respected laboratories.
Inventor of the 4Cs. The world's most trusted diamond grading report worldwide. Best for Natural Diamonds.
World's largest independent gem lab. Renowned international authority for Natural Diamond grading.
The premier global pioneer in certifying lab-grown diamonds with exhaustive spectroscopic analysis.
Europe's leading authority in diamond certification, renowned for strict standards and laser inscription.
Both are beautiful. Both are real. The right choice depends on your priorities — whether that's rarity and tradition, or value and sustainability. NEO DIAM is proud to offer both, so you never have to compromise.
Formed deep within the earth over billions of years. The ultimate symbol of rarity and tradition.
Created in state-of-the-art laboratories. Identical in every way, offering exceptional value.
A tiny diamond seed is placed in pure carbon and exposed to extreme pressure (~1.5M PSI) and temperature (~1400°C), mimicking earth's mantle.
Often produces Type IIb diamonds. Used widely for larger stones or fancy colours (yellow/blue).
A diamond seed in a vacuum chamber is filled with carbon-rich gas. Microwaves ionise the gas, causing carbon atoms to deposit and crystallise layer by layer.
Produces very pure, colourless diamonds. No nitrogen contamination. Preferred for D-F colour grades. Most common method today.
Not sure where to start? Use this guide to understand which characteristics matter most for different use cases.
Cut > Colour > Clarity
Cut: EX · Col: G-H · Cla: VS1-VS2
Cut > Clarity > Colour
Cut: EX · Col: D-F · Cla: VS1-VVS2
Consistency & Value
Col: G-H · Cla: SI1-VS2 · Size: 0.01-0.30
Price/ct & Consistency
Col: H-J · Cla: SI · Mixed sizes
Cut + Colour + Cert
Cut: EX · Col: D-G · Cla: FL-VS1
Yes — absolutely. Lab-grown diamonds are chemically, physically, and optically identical to natural diamonds. Even expert gemologists cannot distinguish them with the naked eye. Only specialist equipment can detect the difference.
A certified diamond has been assessed and graded by an independent laboratory (GIA, IGI, HRD). A non-certified diamond has not been submitted for grading. Non-certified diamonds can still be of excellent quality — they simply don't have a formal grading report, which reduces costs.
Natural diamonds: 0.01ct to 02ct. Lab-grown diamonds: 0.01ct to 20ct. Available in all colours, clarities, and shapes.
Yes. NEO DIAM specialises in custom sourcing. Contact us with your exact specifications and we will source the best match from our inventory or supply network.