The 4Cs of Diamond Quality*
Wonder of Nature
There is no other gemstone quite like a diamond. It is found in the most remote places on earth, and the fact that it forms at all is something of a miracle. It takes about one ton of rock to recover less than half a carat of rough, making diamond one of the rarest and most desired gemstones in the world. A diamond is a testament of endurance and strength — and not surprisingly, the ultimate symbol of love.
Treasure of Time
Every diamond is unique. Each reflects the story of its arduous journey from deep inside the earth to a cherished object of adornment. Yet all diamonds share certain features that allow us to compare and evaluate them. These features are called the 4Cs.
Beauty and Its Beholder
The 4Cs provide a way to objectively compare and evaluate diamonds, but numbers alone can’t describe a diamond’s mysterious and captivating beauty — for that, you’ll have to visit your local jeweler to see one for yourself.
How GIA Grades Your Diamond
Independent and nonprofit, GIA is considered the final word on a diamond’s authenticity and quality. GIA developed the 4Cs and the International Diamond Grading System™, the grading standard adopted by jewelry professionals around the globe.
GIA grades natural diamonds, screening every gemstone to identify synthetics, simulants and known treatments. Expert gemologists examine each diamond under controlled lighting and viewing conditions, in order to provide the most rigorous assessments of a diamond’s 4Cs.
Every GIA Diamond Grading Report or Diamond Dossier® contains these assessments along with additional descriptive information and state-of-the-art security features. Regarded as premier gemological credentials by internat ional gem professionals and fine jewelry houses, GIA Reports accompany the world’s most legendary diamonds — and now, quite possibly, yours. To learn more about the 4Cs, GIA, its reports and services, visit www.gia.edu
*from the brochure “The 4Cs of Diamond Quality” © Gemological Institute of America
