How to Buy Diamonds
Many people are confused about how diamonds are priced. There are many factors that affect a diamond's price; but mainly four key factors — known as the 4Cs of diamond buying.
What are the 4Cs?
A diamond's beauty, rarity, and price depend on the interplay of the 4Cs—carat, cut, color, and clarity. No one C is more important than another in terms of beauty. Knowing the 4Cs will help you buy a diamond confidently.
Carat
This refers to the weight of the diamond. Many people confuse carat weight with size, but that’s not true. A diamond weighing 1.00 carat may look smaller than a 0.75 carat diamond depending on its cut. Carat strictly measures weight, not size.
Cut
Cut refers to the angles and proportions of a diamond. A well-cut diamond reflects light internally from one facet to another and disperses it through the top of the stone, maximizing brilliance. Diamonds cut too deep or shallow lose light through the side or bottom, reducing brilliance and value.
Cut also describes shape—round, princess, oval, emerald, asscher, cushion, pear, or heart. Round diamonds are the most brilliant and follow strict proportional standards. Fancy shapes (non-round) have their own cut guidelines.
Color
Color refers to how colorless a diamond appears. Graded under controlled lighting, truly colorless diamonds (graded D) are rare and highly valued. The GIA color scale ranges from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown).
Warmer diamonds (K–Z) look beautiful in yellow gold settings, while icy whites (D–J) shine best in platinum or white gold. Fancy color diamonds—yellow, blue, green, pink, red, and orange—are exceptionally rare, while brown and black diamonds are more common.
Clarity
Clarity measures the presence of natural inclusions (tiny crystals, feathers, or clouds). Very few diamonds are flawless. The clarity scale ranges from FL (Flawless) to I3 (Included) and is based on visibility at 10x magnification.
Many inclusions are not visible to the naked eye and do not affect beauty. At Princess Jewelry, we specialize in eye-clean diamonds—beautiful stones with inclusions hidden by the setting for maximum sparkle and durability.
What to Spend
When buying a diamond, choose one that balances your budget and your heart. At Princess Jewelry, our experts will guide you to find the best diamond for your price range and preferences. We pride ourselves on transparency and expertise in every step of your diamond-buying journey.
Conflict-Free Diamonds
Diamonds symbolize love, happiness, and wealth to many people—but to others, they can represent conflict and hardship. At Princess Jewelry, we are committed to selling only conflict-free diamonds that symbolize love and integrity.
Conflict Diamonds
In the 1990s, attention turned to "blood diamonds" mined in war zones such as Sierra Leone, where rebel groups funded violence through diamond sales. Although they made up only about 4% of the global trade, the human cost was devastating.
The Kimberley Process
In response, the United Nations and diamond industry established the Kimberley Process in 2000 to prevent the trade of conflict diamonds. Today, over 80 countries—including the United States—participate, ensuring diamonds are ethically sourced.
Princess Jewelry—Fair Trade Diamonds
Every diamond sold at Princess Jewelry comes from trusted suppliers who comply with the Kimberley Process. Each stone is accompanied by proper documentation confirming its ethical origin. We are proud to offer diamonds that reflect not only beauty, but also fairness and responsibility.