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Firefly Diamond Buying Guide
The diamond buying guide
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. While carat is often associated with size, it's not the only factor that determines a diamond’s value or beauty. Two diamonds of equal carat weight can look very different depending on their cut.
Fun fact: Bigger isn’t always better. A well-cut smaller diamond can sparkle more than a larger, poorly cut one.
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. A superb cut can make a diamond appear larger and more dazzling, while a poor cut can leave it looking dull, even if the clarity and colour are top-notch.
Diamond cuts range from Super Ideal to Poor, with precision playing a huge role in elevating the diamond’s allure.
CLARITY
Clarity refers to the presence (or absence) of internal inclusions and external blemishes. The fewer the imperfections, the higher the clarity grade, which ranges from Flawless (FL) to Included (I). Diamonds are graded under 10x magnification, but here’s the good news: many inclusions are so tiny they’re invisible to the naked eye.
Look out for the term “eye clean” it means the diamond appears flawless without a microscope. That's the sweet spot for beauty and value.
COLOUR
In diamonds, less colour = more value. The colour grading scale runs from D (colourless) to Z (light yellow or brown). Colourless diamonds allow maximum light reflection, giving them that extra fire and brilliance.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
D–F
Colourless: rare, icy, and premium.
D–F
Near-colourless: a great mix of beauty and value.
D–F
Faint colour: warm tones visible, especially in larger stones.
D–F
Very light colour: noticeable yellow or brown tinge.
D–F
Light colour: deeper hues, lower value.
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.
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Round brilliant
The most popular shape, prized for its exceptional fire and sparkle, thanks to 58 precisely angled facets.
Round brilliant
The most popular shape, prized for its exceptional fire and sparkle, thanks to 58 precisely angled facets.
Round brilliant
The most popular shape, prized for its exceptional fire and sparkle, thanks to 58 precisely angled facets.
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.