Skip to main content
  • Education
    • Jewelry Education
    • Diamond Education
      • The Four Cs of Diamonds
      • Diamond Buying Tips
    • Choosing the Ring
    • Learn About Gemstones
      • Birthstone Guide
      • Gemstone Guide
    • Precious Metals
    • Jewelry Care
      • Caring for Fine Jewelry
      • Diamond Cleaning
      • Gemstone Cleaning
    • Anniversary Guide
    • Gold Buying Guide
  • News
  • Services
  • Reviews
  • About
  • Contact
  • Log In
  • Search
  • Gift Cards
  • Shopping Cart
  • (800) 316-8902
The Yellow Door
  • Shop all Jewelry
    • Semi-mount Engagement Rings
    • Rings
      • Diamond Fashion Rings
      • Couture Fashion Rings
      • Silver Rings
    • Earrings
      • Diamond Earrings
      • Couture Fashion Earrings
      • Gold Earrings
      • Silver Earrings
    • Necklaces
      • Diamond Necklaces
      • Couture Fashion Necklaces
      • Pearl Necklaces
      • Gold Necklaces
      • Silver Necklaces
    • Pendants
      • Diamond Pendants
    • Bracelets
      • Diamond Bracelets
      • Couture Fashion Bracelets
      • Pearl Bracelets
      • Gold Bracelets
      • Silver Bracelets
    • Giftware
      • Religious
      • Home & Kitchen
      • Accessories
      • China & Porcelain
      • Decor and Home
      • Gifts for Him
      • Children & Baby Gifts
    • Watches
    • Brooches
    • Favorites
    • Gift Cards
    • Lifestyle Enhancing Treasures
    • Cuff Links
    • Shop All Jewelry
  • Specials
  • Diamond & Gold Jewelry
    • Diamond Bracelets
    • Diamond Earrings
    • Diamond Fashion Rings
    • Diamond Necklaces
    • Diamond Pendants
    • Gold Bracelets
    • Gold Earrings
    • Gold Necklaces
  • Couture Fashion Jewelry
    • Couture Fashion Rings
    • Couture Fashion Bracelets
    • Couture Fashion Earrings
    • Couture Fashion Necklaces
  • Designers
    • Alexis Bittar
    • ALOR
    • Angélique de Paris
    • Annie Glass
    • Bronzallure
    • Carla Corporation
    • Classic Touch
    • Cristina Sabatini Jewelry
    • Daum
    • Evanueva
    • Godinger Silver
    • Herend
    • Judith Ripka
    • Lafonn Jewelry
    • Lalique
    • Lele Sadougi
    • Lenox
    • LSA International
    • Mackenzie-Childs
    • Marcia Moran
    • Michael Aram
    • Monte Carlo Designs
    • Ofra Friedland
    • Olivia Riegel
    • Pampa Bay
    • Reed & Barton
    • Rogaska
    • Tizo
  • Gift & Home
    • All Giftware
    • Religious
    • Home & Kitchen
    • Accessories
    • China & Porcelain
    • Decor And Home
    • Gifts For Him
    • Children & Baby Gifts
    • Gift Cards
  • News
  • About
  • Contact
  • Search
  • My Account
  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 The Yellow Door 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 The Yellow Door and is typically not recommended.

Excellent
Very Good
Good
Fair
Poor
Not carried by The Yellow Door

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

Shop Loose Diamonds

Jewelry
  • Semi-mount Engagement Rings
  • Rings
  • Earrings
  • Necklaces
  • Pendants
  • Bracelets
  • Giftware
  • Watches
  • Brooches
  • Favorites
  • Gift Cards
  • Lifestyle Enhancing Treasures
  • Cuff Links
Gift & Home
  • Semi-mount Engagement Rings
  • Rings
  • Earrings
  • Necklaces
  • Pendants
  • Bracelets
  • Giftware
  • Watches
  • Brooches
  • Favorites
  • Gift Cards
  • Lifestyle Enhancing Treasures
  • Cuff Links
Locations

Due to Covid restrictions and related issues, please call Stores to verify hours. Thanks for your understanding.

    Brooklyn Store
    1308 Avenue M
    Brooklyn, NY 11230
    (718) 998-7382
    Store Information
    Deal Store
    SUMMER ONLY AND BY APPOINTMENT OFF-SEASON
    114 Norwood Avenue
    Deal, NJ 07723
    (732) 531-1110
    Store Information
    Lakewood Store
    Seagull Square Shopping Plaza
    1328 River Avenue
    Lakewood, NJ 08701
    (732) 531-1110
    Store Information
    Hours
    Mon - Thurs:10:00am - 5:45pm
    Friday:10:00am - 2:00pm
    Saturday:Closed
    Sunday:11:00am - 4:45pm
    Our Store
    • About Us
    • Our Services
    • Create a Wish List

    Follow us on Social Media
      Return Policy Privacy Policy Terms of Use

      © 2023 The Yellow Door. All Rights Reserved. Website designed, maintained, and hosted by Punchmark. Accessibility Statement.