Skip to main content
  • call or text 903.454.3802
  • Wish List
  • My Cart
  • Sign In
  • Visit Our Store
  • Book a FREE Online Consultation
Texas Gold Connection
  • Engagement
    Choose Your Style
    All Engagement RingsComplete (Includes Center Stone)HaloDouble HaloThree StoneStraight
     
    SolitaireThree Stone HaloSplit/Bypass ShankFree FormWide Band
    Wedding Bands
    Men’s Wedding BandsLadies Wedding Bands

    Explore All Engagement
  • Jewelry
    ClearanceAnniversary Rings Ladies Wedding Bands
    Ladies Diamond Wedding BandsRing Jackets / Wraps
    Men's Wedding Bands
    Men's Gold Wedding BandsAlternative Metal Bands
    Rings
    StackablesGold RingsDiamond RingsGemstone RingsSilver Rings
    Earrings
    Diamond StudsDiamond Halo EarringsDiamond HoopsDiamond EarringsGemstone EarringsPearl EarringsGold EarringsSilver Earrings
    Necklaces
    Diamond Solitaire NecklaceDiamond NecklacesGemstone NecklacesGold NecklacesSilver NecklacesPearl Strands & Necklaces
    Bracelets
    Diamond BraceletsGold BraceletSilver BraceletsPearl Bracelets
    Chains
    Gold ChainsSilver Chains
    Watches
    Men's WatchesWomen's Watches
    Men's Jewelry
    Men's Gold JewelryAlternative Metal NecklacesAlternative Metal BraceletAlternative Metal Ring
    Accessories
    Jewelry BoxesRoses
    Texas JewelryEstate Jewelry

    Jewelry
  • Collections
    Allison KaufmanAmmara StoneAshiBenchmarkForge
    Gabriel & CoGems OneHandmade by USImperial PearlsINOX
    LuventeMarathonPhillip GavrielQueen OpalRoyal Chain
    Rustic SilverSeikoStullerTantalum

    Collections
  • Our Store
    About Our Store
    Who We AreStore ReviewsOur BlogStore EventsSocial Media
    Store Information
    Free Shipping$1 Diamond Trade-UpWarrantyReturns & ExchangesFinancing
    Custom Jewelry Design
    Custom Jewelry Design
  • Education
    Learn About Diamonds
    Four Cs of DiamondsDiamond Buying Tips
    Learn About Gemstones
    Find Your BirthstoneGemstone Education
    Jewelry Care
    Caring for Fine JewelryCaring for Your Diamond JewelryCaring for Gemstones
    Precious Metals
    Anniversary Gift Guide Gold Buying Guide Choosing The Right Setting
    Learn About Your Jewelry
    Learn About Your Jewelry

    Explore All Education
  • Services
    Custom Jewelry Jewelry Repair
    Watch Repair Eyeglass Repair
  • Contact
  • Search
  1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Diamonds

Learn About Diamonds

The Four Cs of Diamonds

Our Four C's of Diamonds guide can help you decide on the most important factors when shopping for a diamond.

  • Carat
  • Cut
  • Color
  • Clarity

The Carat Weight

The word carat derives from the word carob, a Mediterranean seed, which has an extremely consistent weight for measuring. The greater the carat weight, the rarer, and more valuable the diamond becomes. Five metric carats weighs exactly 1 gram.

Some people want the largest diamond possible. If size is a priority, we at Texas Gold Connection can help you classify the proper cut, color and clarity to fit your budget economically, and fit your jewelry beautifully. Many of our engagement rings can fit diamonds up to 5.00 carats, but each ring has different size constraints based on its size and the type of setting. Prong settings can be manipulated to fit virtually any size diamond, but tension-set diamonds and bezel set diamonds have more limitations on size.

The Cut

The true definition of cut is the quality of the proportions and symmetry of the diamond. Your diamond's proportions make a vast difference on how brightly your diamond shines. An 'ideal cut' diamond is one that allows the maximum amount of light to return through the top of the diamond, which takes into consideration the depth, table size, crown height and angle, girdle thickness and more. Our diamond professionals will be happy to assist you in selecting the best diamond cut.

After a rough diamond is mined, it is evaluated to determine its best possible cut, in order to maintain the maximum clarity, color, and carat weight. The term 'cut' is often confused with diamond 'shape', such as round brilliant or princess cut.

Excellent

This is the rarest cut grade and reflects the most light.

Very Good

This cut grade reflects nearly as much light as an Excellent cut grade, but for a lower price.

Good

This cut grade reflects most of the light that enters the diamond, but not as much as a Very Good cut grade.

Fair

This cut grade may appear dull or even glassy, and is very inexpensive.

Poor

This cut grade is not carried by Texas Gold Connection and is typically not recommended.

Excellent
Very Good
Good
Fair
Poor
Not carried by Texas Gold Connection

MORE DIAMONDS

The Color

Color is one of the more noticeable attributes of a diamond and has a heavy impact on the price of the stone. Diamonds range from colorless to yellow or light brown, and are sometimes found in a spectrum of fancy colors, including yellow, blue, and even red diamonds. The less color, the rarer the diamond. After 'Z' on the color scale, diamonds become fancy yellow, which cost more because of their rarity.

Z-N
M-K
Noticeable Color
J
I
H
G
Near Colorless
F
E
D
Colorless
Z-N
M-K
J
I
H
G
F
E
D
Noticeable Color
Near Colorless
Colorless

The Clarity

Diamonds are composed of mostly carbon. During the heating process, other elements become trapped inside, giving each diamond its own unique fingerprint. These inclusions help identify the clarity of your diamond. All diamonds are viewed through a 10x magnification lens by diamond graders.

Flawless

No inclusions or blemishes are visible to a skilled grader.

Internally Flawless

No inclusions and only blemishes are visible to a skilled grader.

Very Very Slightly Included

Inclusions are difficult for a skilled grader to see.

Very Slightly Included

Inclusions are clearly visible but can be characterized as minor.

Slightly Included

Inclusions are noticeable to a skilled grader.

Included

Inclusions are obvious and may affect transparency and brilliance.

FFlawless
IFInternally Flawless
VVS1
VVS2
Very Very Slightly Included
VS1
VS2
Very Slightly Included
SI1
SI2
Slightly Included
I1
I2
I3
Included

MORE DIAMONDS

newsletter

GET THE INSIDE SCOOP ON SALES, SPECIALS AND UPCOMING EVENTS!

Jewelry
  • Clearance
  • Anniversary Rings
  • Ladies Wedding Bands
  • Men's Wedding Bands
  • Rings
  • Earrings
  • Necklaces
  • Bracelets
  • Chains
  • Watches
  • Men's Jewelry
  • Accessories
  • Texas Jewelry
  • Estate Jewelry
Services
  • Custom Jewelry
  • Selling Gold
  • Jewelry Repair
  • Watch Repair
  • Eyeglass Repair
Our Store
  • About Us
  • Our Blog
  • Returns & Exchanges
  • Free Shipping
  • Diamond Trade-Up
  • Financing
  • Privacy Policy
Texas Gold Connection
2824 Terrell Road Suite #106
Greenville, TX 75402
(903) 454-3802
Store Information
Hours
Monday:Closed
Tues - Fri:9:30am - 5:00pm
Saturday:9:30am - 1:00pm
Sunday:Closed
Follow Us:

© 2023 Texas Gold Connection. All Rights Reserved. Website designed, maintained, and hosted by Punchmark. Accessibility Statement.