What Actually Matters When Buying a Diamond (And What Doesn’t)
By Alexis Elsey – GIA Graduate, Former Tiffany & Co. Gemologist, Founder of 57 Facets
If you’ve started researching engagement rings, you’ve probably seen the phrase “The 4 Cs” about 47 times already.
Cut. Color. Clarity. Carat.
They sound scientific. Objective. Like if you just study hard enough, you’ll unlock the secret formula to the perfect diamond.
But here’s the real formula most people miss: Not all Cs are created equal.
The Problem with “The 4 Cs” Framework
It’s not that the 4 Cs are wrong. They’re just... incomplete.
They were created by GIA (where I trained) to give a consistent way to grade diamonds. But grading is not the same as shopping.
The problem is, the moment these terms hit the internet, every site turned them into dropdowns — and now you’re expected to become a professional grader just to buy a ring.
Let’s simplify.
💎 What Actually Matters
1. Cut Quality (Yes — this one’s real)
This is the most important factor in how a diamond sparkles. A poorly cut diamond — even a big one — will look dull. Cut determines how well light reflects inside the stone and back out to your eye.
My advice: Always prioritize cut above all else. It’s the sparkle-maker.
2. Eye-Clean Clarity