When shopping for a diamond—whether it's for an engagement ring, a timeless piece of jewelry, or a special gift—understanding the 4Cs is essential. The 4Cs are the global standard originally created by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) for evaluating diamond quality and include Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight. These characteristics directly impact a diamond’s beauty, brilliance, and price.

• Cut: The cut determines how well a diamond reflects light. A well-cut diamond delivers maximum sparkle and fire.
• Color: The universal standard for diamond color ranges from D (colorless) to Z. The higher grades (D-F) actually refer to an absence of color, which is typically preferred.
• Clarity: Clarity defines the extent or degree of imperfections that are present in a diamond. Lab-grown diamonds often feature excellent clarity, giving you more beauty for your budget.
• Carat: Refers to the diamond’s weight. While directly related to it’s size, it’s important to consider the diamond’s dimensions to accurately reflect it’s size.

Since lab grown diamonds are physically, chemically, and optically identical to mined diamonds, the same 4Cs grading system applies. Knowing how to evaluate these factors will help you choose the perfect diamond for your needs without overpaying for qualities that may not be as important to you. Luckily, with lab grown diamonds, you often won't need to compromise on the quality of the diamond and can still find exactly what you want within your budget.

Diamond grading institutions like the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the International Gemological Institute (IGI) evaluate cut based on a combination of factors, including:

• Proportions (depth, table size, angles)
• Light performance (how efficiently light is reflected)
• Symmetry (facet alignment and balance)
• Polish (quality of the facet finish)

For round brilliant diamonds, these elements are combined into a single overall Cut grade, since their proportions and light performance can be measured consistently. GIA grades round diamond cut from Excellent to Poor. IGI grades round diamond cut from Ideal / Excellent to Poor.

Fancy shapes (such as ovals, cushions, emeralds, and pears) vary widely in proportions and stylistic preferences, making a universal Cut grade more difficult. As a result, fancy diamond shapes do not receive an overall Cut grade.

However, their beauty and brilliance are still influenced by depth, table size, facet alignment, length-to-width-ratio, and polish and symmetry. 

Both round and fancy shape diamonds are graded separately for Polish and Symmetry, each on a scale from Excellent to Poor. These factors play a major role in light performance and overall appearance.

• Poor: Most light escapes through the sides and bottom of the diamond instead of reflecting back to the eye. Weak proportions and subpar symmetry result in minimal sparkle and a flat, lifeless appearance.
• Fair: Proportions favor size over performance, resulting in visible light loss. Symmetry and polish may be less refined, leading to reduced sparkle and uneven light return.
• Good: Balanced proportions and reflects a majority of light, but with some light leakage. Still sparkly, but noticeably less brilliant than higher cut grades.
• Very Good: Returns most light, resulting in strong brilliance and sparkle. Minor differences in proportions may cause slight light leakage, but overall visual performance remains excellent.
• Excellent (GIA): Delivers maximum brilliance and fire by reflecting nearly all light back to the viewer’s eye. Precise proportions and symmetry create exceptional sparkle, fire, and balanced light performance.
• Ideal (IGI): IGI’s highest cut grade, representing top-tier proportions, symmetry, and polish. Delivers maximum brilliance, fire, and balanced light return with an even, crisp light pattern—often comparable in quality to a GIA Excellent Cut.

• For round diamonds, prioritize Excellent or Ideal cut grades for maximum sparkle.
• For fancy shapes, look at length-to-width ratios based on your personal preference and aim for Excellent Symmetry and Polish.
• Depth and Table % influence how light enters and reflects through—avoid diamonds that are too shallow or too deep, as they lose light and appear lifeless.
• For elongated fancy shapes (oval, pear, marquise), avoid strong bow-ties, which appear as dark shadows across the center.

Diamond color is graded in a standardized viewing environment to allow for precise and unbiased evaluations. The diamond is placed face-down and viewed through the side in controlled lighting, and compared to master sets with known color grades. Multiple gemologists assess each stone independently, and the final grade is determined by consensus. 

With mined diamonds, the difference between colorless (D-F) and near-colorless (G-J) can mean thousands of dollars, making G-H a popular choice for balancing beauty and value.

However, with lab grown diamonds, the price difference between D-F and G-J is much smaller, making it more accessible to choose a colorless diamond without breaking your budget. 

• D-F (Colorless): Most lab grown diamonds fall in this range due to precise production methods. Ideal for those who want a pure, icy-white look.
• G-H (Near-Colorless): Still appears white with a slightly warmer tone, with minimal visible difference but a slightly lower price. You likely won’t find many lab diamonds below a G color as most are grown with a focus on achieving higher color grades.

With mined diamonds, VS2-SI1 is often recommended as the sweet spot, offering an eye-clean look without the exponential price increase for higher clarity grades. Many jewelers will look for eye-clean SI diamonds to help their customers save, with small inclusions positioned in a way that are unable to be seen with the naked eye. 

Lab grown diamonds tend to have fewer inclusions than mined diamonds because they form in a controlled environment over a relatively short period of time, rather than deep within the earth under unpredictable conditions over billions of years. Many lab diamonds fall in the VVS1-VS2 range as standard, meaning buyers can afford a cleaner, more flawless diamond without a huge price difference.

• FL (Flawless) & IF (Internally Flawless): No visible inclusions under 10X magnification. 
  *It's not necessary, but if you want a truly flawless diamond you will find more options with lab grown at a fraction of the mined diamond price.
• VVS1-VVS2 (Very, Very Slightly Included): Inclusions seen at 10X are minute. Nearly perfect with tiny inclusions invisible to the naked eye.
• VS1-VS2 (Very Slightly Included): Inclusions seen at 10X are minor. Best balance of quality and value—flaws are microscopic.
• SI1-SI2 (Slightly Included): Inclusions seen at 10X are noticeable. Some inclusions may be visible to the naked eye, but many SI1 diamonds appear eye-clean.
• I1-I3 (Included): Inclusions seen at 10X are obvious. This range is not eye clean and inclusions may affect transparency and sparkle.

• VVS1-VVS2: Nearly flawless and without an untrained eye, inclusions may not even be detectable under magnification.
• VS1-VS2: A great balance of clarity and price—most lab diamonds in this range are completely eye-clean. Opt for VS1 for fewer inclusions.

While carat weight refers to a diamond’s size, it’s important to note that carat doesn’t necessarily equal visual size. A well-cut diamond with a lower carat weight can appear larger than a heavier diamond with poor cut and proportions.

Also, different shape diamonds will look visually different in size. Elongated shapes like Ovals, Pears, and Marquise can look larger than the same carat weight of a Round diamond. Asschers and Cushions have more depth to their cut, carrying more weight in the bottom of the diamond—meaning they will face up smaller than other shapes.

Lab grown diamonds cost significantly less per carat than mined diamonds, making it easier to afford larger stones without compromising on quality.

• Whatever you like! Your budget goes a lot further with lab grown diamonds, so the diamond carat weight of your dreams might be closer to your budget than you think.

For elongated diamond shapes like ovals, pears, emerald, radiants, and marquise, the ratio affects how elongated or chunky the diamond will look. The "ideal" ratio is mostly based on personal preference and varies for different diamond shapes, but there is a range you want to stay within to prevent affecting the brilliance and cut.

Finding the Right Balance

With mined diamonds, shoppers often compromise between color, clarity, and size to stay within budget. But lab grown diamonds reduce the need for those tradeoffs. Because lab diamonds cost significantly less, you’ll often find higher color and clarity grades—like D-F and VS1+—and Excellent or Ideal cut diamonds at accessible prices.

That means you can choose a stunning, high-quality diamond without needing to “settle” for lower specs. You can get a bigger, more brilliant stone without compromising.

One last note. With engagement rings, bigger may not always be better! Consider what size looks flattering on your hand, as well as what suits your lifestyle. A 10 carat diamond would of course be stunning, but if you are someone who is very active and physical with your hands, it may not be the best option for every day. 

Again, one of the key benefits to lab grown diamonds is that you are less constrained by any factors and can find the perfect diamond for you.

Why Choose Lab-Grown Diamonds?

• Real diamonds at a better value
• Eco-conscious and ethically made
• Brilliant quality with higher color and clarity options
• Perfect for engagement rings, fine jewelry, and everyday luxury

At LabGrownDiamonds.com, we’re committed to transparent education, expert guidance, and premium lab-grown diamond jewelry. Explore our selection and find the perfect diamond to celebrate your love story.