The Diamond Guide
Everything you need to choose a diamond with confidence: what the Four Cs mean, how each one changes the way a stone looks, and how IWA selects every lab grown diamond we set.
The Four C’s
Cut, colour, clarity and carat are the four qualities every diamond is graded on. Together they describe how a stone handles light, how white it appears, how clean it is and how much it weighs. They are a starting point, not the whole story: the right diamond is also the one that looks right to you.
What is diamond cut?
Cut is the quality that shapes a diamond’s brilliance. It describes how precisely a stone’s facets are proportioned, aligned and polished, which decides how much light comes back to the eye.
At IWA, cut quality comes first when we select a stone: a beautifully cut diamond looks brighter and livelier than a larger one cut without care.
Why is cut so important in a diamond?
When facets are too deep or too shallow, light leaks out through the side or base of the stone and the diamond looks dark or glassy, whatever its colour or clarity.
A well cut diamond reflects light back up through its table and crown, giving brightness, fire and the flashes of sparkle you see as it moves.
What is diamond colour?
Diamond colour describes how much tint a white diamond carries. It is graded on a scale from D, completely colourless, to Z, with a visible warm tone.
The closer a diamond sits to D, the whiter and brighter it looks, especially in white gold settings.
Why is colour important?
Colour is the quality most people notice after cut. A stone with a noticeable tint can look warmer and less bright in daylight, while a colourless stone reflects pure white light.
Many of our designs use D to F colour, the colourless range, so the diamond stays crisp and bright against rose, yellow or white gold.
Diamond Specialists
Our specialists can walk you through stones, settings and sizes by video call, phone or in our studio, whether you are choosing from our collection or planning a bespoke piece.
Book an appointmentWhat is diamond clarity?
Clarity describes the tiny natural characteristics inside a diamond, called inclusions, and marks on its surface, called blemishes.
They are graded under 10x magnification by their size, number and position, on a scale from Flawless to Included.
Does clarity really matter in a diamond?
Clarity affects how freely light travels through a stone. Large or dark inclusions can interrupt it and make a diamond look hazy.
Most inclusions in the VS range and above cannot be seen without magnification, which is why we favour VS to VVS clarity for our diamonds.
How does IWA grade diamond clarity?
Every diamond we set is checked against the international clarity scale, from Flawless (FL) and Internally Flawless (IF) through the VVS and VS grades to Included (I).
We choose stones whose inclusions are not visible to the eye, so your piece looks clean and bright in everyday wear.
What is a diamond carat?
Carat is a measure of weight, not size: one carat weighs 0.2 grams.
Two diamonds of the same weight can look quite different in size, depending on how they are cut and proportioned.
Rather than chasing weight alone, look for the balance of cut, colour and clarity that gives a stone its presence on the hand.
Where do our diamonds come from?
IWA works with lab grown diamonds. Each one is grown from carbon in a controlled laboratory environment, then cut, polished and graded exactly like a mined diamond.
Every piece is then set by hand in our studio in Surat, India, in 10KT, 14KT or 18KT rose, yellow or white gold.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. A lab grown diamond is carbon crystallised in the same structure as a mined diamond, so it has the same hardness, fire and brilliance. The difference is where it formed: in a controlled laboratory rather than deep underground.
Our diamonds are graded for cut, colour, clarity and carat by independent laboratories. Ask our team for the certificate that belongs to your piece before you buy, and we will share it with you.
Yes. Through our bespoke service you can change the stone, metal, setting or size of a design, or start something entirely new with our team.
There is no rule. Decide what feels comfortable, then balance the Four Cs within it: a well cut stone with a slightly lower colour or clarity grade often looks more beautiful than a larger stone cut poorly.