What are the 4Cs of engagement rings?

The 4Cs of engagement rings are cut, color, clarity and carat weight, but this doesn�t pertain solely to engagement rings. Established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the 4Cs are the guidelines that determine how diamonds are graded. A diamond�s cut pertains to how the stone�s facets interact with the light. There are five main categories of color (judged on the tone and saturation): colorless, near colorless, faint, very light and light. According to the GIA, �clarity is the relative absence of inclusions and blemishes� in a diamond (inclusions are internal features and blemishes refers to surface irregularities). Also per the GIA, �Diamonds are weighed to a thousandth (0.001) of a carat and then rounded to the nearest hundredth, or point. Over a carat, diamond weights are usually expressed in carats and decimals.� Keep in mind that because a three-carat gem can be less valuable then a one-carat stone, weight is not the most important signifier of a stone�s value. Explore a large collection of engagement rings on 1stDibs.