The 4Cs of diamonds are the most important of all the diamond grading parameters. While this means that they’re all you need to know, it also means that they aren’t the only ones. Diamond grading is done on several parameters and the 4Cs, the cut, carat, clarity and colour may sometimes just not be enough.

So what do can you do when the 4Cs of diamonds are done with and you want to delve deeper? It’s true that these basic diamond attributes form an essential part of diamond education but there’s much more.

First, let’s quickly jog our memory on how the 4Cs affect a diamond’s value and beauty. The most beautiful diamonds in nature are colourless, without any internal flaws (inclusions) and are perfectly cut. But that does not mean that a couple of flaws and some colour will make your solitaire look bad.

It is only a high degree of colour and many visible inclusions that ruin a diamond’s beauty. Here, even the best diamond cut cannot salvage its appearance at all. Compromising a little on the quality brings down the diamond pricing but still keeps it looking pretty.

How many diamond grading parameters are there?

According to international laboratories, there are 40 diamond grading parameters. They issue a diamond grading report or certificate based on these attributes. Grading experts analyse each of these parameters and then certify the diamond.

Overall, there are 123 diamond grading parameters and only Divine Solitaires certifies diamonds on all these parameters. They can be as simple as a diamond’s fluorescence to something complicated like a diamond’s table depth. However, for a diamond grader, each of these characteristics is important. A slight flaw with a single one of them could mean that the diamond is not at its best.

As consumers, we set a budget while buying diamonds and diamond jewellery. The quality is the reason why no two diamonds will have the same pricing. The slightest change in any of the 4Cs will change its value. And these differences are something only the grader will notice under close observation. Always check a diamond’s light performance along with its other parameters to get the best quality you can.

Even with the cut, clarity, colour and carat, every combination will give you a different diamond. It is a well-known fact that no two diamonds are alike just like no two human beings can have the same fingerprints. And hence, there are a number of diamonds, each different from the other in some way or the other.

What are these attributes other than the 4Cs?

We have always thought that knowing the 4Cs is more than enough. Well, of course, how would you know the others without a specialised diamond grading course? But here’s a tip – there are a few that you can know about without too much of an effort. And they are really important for your diamond. Though the diamond grading laboratory won’t give you a false report, some research can be very helpful.

The parameters you should gather information about are light performance, fluorescence and overtones. The presence of the second and third one may not always be quite obvious. It is generally difficult for a consumer to know which diamonds have fluorescence and overtones in them.

Diamonds can have a natural faint yellow tinge. However, if the diamond has an additional or secondary colour, then it is known as an overtone. A diamond with an overtone is not the same as one with a natural colour. Therefore, there is also a difference in pricing, with the former being less expensive. Overtones in diamonds could be desirable but the greenish or brownish colours may not look great on your jewellery.

It is much more difficult to spot fluorescence in a diamond. Only a diamond grader can check a diamond for this property under ultraviolet lights. It is a bluish glow that the diamond emits. Usually, there is no problem with diamonds with a small amount of fluorescence. However, this characteristic lowers its quality as well as pricing. Sometimes, the fluorescence may also cause the diamond to look clouded or impure.