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Firefly Diamond Buying Guide
Everything you need to know
What makes a diamond?
A diamond is a naturally occurring mineral made almost entirely of carbon, cherished for its unmatched hardness, brilliance, and timeless beauty. When expertly cut and polished, it comes alive with sparkle and fire, making it one of the most desired gemstones in the world.
For centuries, diamonds have symbolised love, commitment, and celebration. They carry stories that span generations, representing strength, purity, and everlasting beauty.
The rise of Lab-Grown Diamonds
Created using advanced technology that replicates the natural diamond-forming process, lab-grown diamonds possess the same physical, chemical, and optical properties as mined diamonds. They’re a blend of contemporary values with classic sophistication.
What distinguishes them is their origin. The very nature that they are cultivated in controlled laboratory settings rather than extracted from the earth. As a result, they offer an ethical, sustainable choice without compromising on beauty or brilliance. Perfect for those who value both luxury and responsibility.
Want to make a smarter choice when buying diamonds? Let’s start with the 4 Cs.
Understanding the 4 C’s
The 4 C’s - Carat, Cut, Clarity, and Colour were introduced by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in the
1940s to
standardise diamond grading worldwide.
Whether lab-grown or mined, every real diamond is graded using these same parameters. And yes, lab-grown
diamonds can
range from poor to excellent across the 4 C’s, just like their natural counterparts.
Here’s what each ‘C’ means for you:
CARAT
Carat measures the weight of a diamond. One carat equals 200 milligrams and is divided into 100 points for ultra-precise measurement.
CUT
Cut is everything when it comes to sparkle. It refers to how well a diamond’s facets interact with light, affecting its brilliance, fire, and scintillation.
CLARITY
Clarity refers to the presence (or absence) of internal inclusions and external blemishes. The fewer the imperfections, the higher the clarity grade.
COLOUR
In diamonds, less colour = more value. The colour grading scale runs from D (colourless) to Z (light yellow or brown).
Fancy coloured diamonds
Fancy-coloured diamonds go beyond the traditional D-Z range and come in mesmerising hues, pink, blue, green, yellow, orange, even red. Because sometimes, bold is beautiful. Unlike regular diamonds, their value increases with intensity and rarity of colour. The more vivid the hue, the more coveted (and valuable) the diamond becomes.
Brilliance you
can believe in
Define your style and setting
Decide if you prefer classic solitaires, halos or three-stone settings to guide shape and size choices.
Balance the 4 Cs
Prioritise cut for sparkle, then select a harmony of carat, clarity and colour that fits your taste and budget.
Set your budget
Determine a comfortable price range, then explore options just below popular carat thresholds for maximum value.
Choose certification
Always request a reputable grading report (e.g. GIA or IGI) to verify quality and authenticity.
FAQs
The 4 C’s—Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat—are the universal standards for assessing diamond quality. Each attribute is graded on its scale to determine a stone’s overall value and beauty.
Cut is often deemed most crucial because it governs a diamond’s brilliance and sparkle. However, personal preference and budget may lead you to prioritise a different combination of the 4 C’s.
Natural diamonds crystallise from carbon under extreme pressure and temperature deep within the Earth over billions of years. Lab-grown diamonds replicate these exact conditions in a controlled laboratory.
Certified diamonds are independently graded by institutions such as GIA, IGI, HRD Antwerp or GCAL. A certification report verifies a diamond’s cut, colour, clarity and carat weight for authenticity and quality.
Gemologists use specialised equipment and magnification to assess each of the 4 C’s. They also plot clarity characteristics and proportion diagrams to provide a comprehensive grading report.
Diamonds rank 10 on the Mohs hardness scale—the highest known—making them exceptionally resistant to scratches and ideal as centre gems in engagement rings and fine jewellery.
Price varies with rarity and quality. Higher grades in cut, colour or clarity, or greater carat weight, command premium prices. Lab-grown diamonds offer the same quality at a more accessible price point.
A diamond tester is a handheld tool that measures thermal or electrical conductivity, helping distinguish real diamonds from imitations.
A diamond accent is a smaller stone set alongside a piece’s centre gem, commonly found on bands or settings to enhance overall sparkle.
Brilliance: White light reflection from the diamond’s facetsFire: Rainbow flashes as light disperses Scintillation: Patterns of light and dark flashes when the diamond, light source or observer moves