Beyond the 4Cs
At Chic Rainbow, we go beyond the standard 4Cs, individually selecting diamonds against additional rigid criteria to ensure that only the most beautiful diamonds can become Chic Rainbow.
Individual Selection
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Chic Rainbow Goes Beyond The Standard 4Cs To Individually Select Only The Most Beautiful Diamonds
While all grading reports assess diamond for colour, clarity, cut and carat weight (the standard 4Cs), Chic Rainbow individually selects diamonds against additional rigid criteria to ensure that only the most beautiful diamonds become Chic Rainbow.
A standard grading report only tells part of a diamond’s story as the 4Cs are only four of the many characteristics of a diamond.
In fact, since every diamond is as unique as a snowflake, even two diamonds with the same 4Cs grade may not be the same and therefore not equally beautiful.
The 4C's - Cut
• The cut of a diamond is easily its most important trait. No matter how clear or colourless a diamond is, if it is cut improperly, the stone will appear dull. Don't worry—we only use the best of the best!
• If a diamond is cut properly, the light traveling into the stone will be reflected out the top of the diamond, called the “table”. If it is cut improperly, light will escape out the bottom or side of the stone, making it appear less brilliant.
• For these reasons, it's worth allocating a large portion of your budget to getting a diamond cut rated “Very Good” or better.
The 4C's - Clarity
Imperfections in diamonds are called “inclusions”. Diamonds with fewer inclusions are said to have better clarity.
We recommend choosing a diamond with a clarity grade of VS1 or better, which means that inclusions are invisible to the naked eye. This diamond may indeed have some inclusions, but for the most part, you won't be viewing them under a microscope in your day-to-day! This is a wise place to allow for some imperfections for the budget-conscious buyer.
The 4C's - Color
The ideal diamond is colourless. Diamonds with poor grades take on a yellowish colour.
The grade scale is defined as the letters D through Z. D is extremely rare and perfectly colourless. We recommend that you select a diamond graded H or higher, preferably higher, to avoid this yellow colour.
The 4C's - Carat
Carat refers to a diamond’s weight, not its size. In combination with an excellent cut, a small diamond can look much bigger and shinier than larger diamonds with poor cuts.
Large diamonds are rarer, which makes them much more expensive. For this reason, it’s often smart to purchase diamonds which are slightly below the half or full carat mark—for example, .75 of a carat, or 1.4 carat.
If a larger carat is important to you, consider purchasing a diamond with more inclusions or with more colour if budget is a concern.
Feeling overwhelmed?
All of these factors will contribute to your perfect lab diamond. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s a great idea to speak with us. We can advise you on what diamonds might be best for you and your budget—really, no question is too small or silly, we are here for you! Our little recipe for cost effective success: an Ideal Cut .75 carat diamond, with VS1 Clarity and G - J colour. This ensures good value for a beautiful diamond. Just remember: cut and colour first!