Skip to main content
Grand Junction's Local Jeweler! OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
  • Our Staff
  • About Us
  • Contact
Mesa Jewelers logo
  • Engagement
    • Start with the Diamond
    • Start with the Ring
    • Shop Engagement Rings
    • Shop Wedding Sets
    • Diamond Education
    • Choosing the Right Ring
  • Brands
    • 4ever2
    • Carla/Nancy B
    • Colore | SG
    • Le Vian
    • Rembrandt Charms
    • SDC Collection
    • Silk & Company
    • Sopraffino Jewelry Inc.
    • Valina
    • Allison Kaufman
    • Ancora Designs
    • Anjess
    • Asher
    • Ashi
    • Belle E 'toile
    • Bulova
    • Carla Corporation
    • Charles Ligeti
    • Citizen
    • Claude Thibaudeau
    • Equity Diamond Brokers
    • Ever & Ever
    • Fana
    • Frank Reubel
    • Frederic Duclos
    • Frederick Goldman
    • Gabriel & Co
    • Goldcraft West Inc.
    • Jewelry Innovations
    • John Atencio
    • Kabana
    • Lashbrook Designs
    • Leslie's
    • Luminar
    • Original Designs
    • Overnight
    • Pink Diamond Corp.
    • Quality Gold
    • SDC Creations
    • Stuller
    • Unique Settings
  • Jewelry
    • Engagement
      • Loose Diamonds
      • Engagement Rings
      • Wedding Sets
      • Semi-Mount Rings
      • Anniversary Rings
      • Other
      • Ring Enhancers
      • Clocks
    • Wedding Bands
      • Women's Wedding Bands
      • Men's Wedding Bands
      • Stackable Rings
      • Three Stone Engagement Rings
      • Halo Engagement Rings
      • Solitaire Engagement Rings
      • Gemstone Fashion Rings
      • Fashion Rings
      • Anniversary Bands
      • Couples Rings
      • Eternity Bands
      • Diamond Rings
      • Diamond Engagement Rings
      • Diamond Three Stone Rings
    • Rings
      • Diamond Fashion Rings
      • Colored Stone Rings
      • Silver Rings
      • Pearl Rings
      • Promise Rings
    • Earrings
      • Diamond Earrings
      • Colored Stone Earrings
      • Gold Earrings
      • Silver Earrings
      • Pearl Earrings
      • Earring Jackets
      • Hoop Earrings
      • Stud Earrings
      • Gemstone Earrings
      • Ear Climber Earrings
      • Diamond Hoop Earrings
    • Pendants
      • Charms
      • Diamond Pendants
      • Colored Stone Pendants
      • Gold Pendants
      • Silver Pendants
      • Pearl Pendants
      • Heart Pendants
      • Gemstone Pendants
      • Diamond Crosses
    • Necklaces
      • Diamond Necklaces
      • Colored Stone Necklaces
      • Pearl Necklaces
      • Religious Necklaces
      • Gemstone Necklaces
      • Heart Necklaces
    • Bracelets
      • Diamond Bracelets
      • Colored Stone Bracelets
      • Gold Bracelets
      • Silver Bracelets
      • Pearl Bracelets
      • Gemstone Bracelets
      • Bangle Bracelets
      • Chain Bracelets
      • Tennis Bracelets
      • Bolo Bracelets
      • Diamond Bangle Bracelets
    • Watches
      • Men's Watches
      • Women's Watches
      • Dress Watches
      • Unisex Watches
    • Chains
    • Bridal Sets
    • Clearance
  • Our Store
    • Our Services
    • Return Policy
    • Financing
    • Social Media
  • Account
  • Wishlist
  • My Cart
  1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Diamonds

Learn About Diamonds

The Four Cs of Diamonds

Our Four C's of Diamonds guide can help you decide on the most important factors when shopping for a diamond.

  • Carat
  • Cut
  • Color
  • Clarity

The Carat Weight

The word carat derives from the word carob, a Mediterranean seed, which has an extremely consistent weight for measuring. The greater the carat weight, the rarer, and more valuable the diamond becomes. Five metric carats weighs exactly 1 gram.

Some people want the largest diamond possible. If size is a priority, we at Mesa Jewelers can help you classify the proper cut, color and clarity to fit your budget economically, and fit your jewelry beautifully. Many of our engagement rings can fit diamonds up to 5.00 carats, but each ring has different size constraints based on its size and the type of setting. Prong settings can be manipulated to fit virtually any size diamond, but tension-set diamonds and bezel set diamonds have more limitations on size.

The Cut

The true definition of cut is the quality of the proportions and symmetry of the diamond. Your diamond's proportions make a vast difference on how brightly your diamond shines. An 'ideal cut' diamond is one that allows the maximum amount of light to return through the top of the diamond, which takes into consideration the depth, table size, crown height and angle, girdle thickness and more. Our diamond professionals will be happy to assist you in selecting the best diamond cut.

After a rough diamond is mined, it is evaluated to determine its best possible cut, in order to maintain the maximum clarity, color, and carat weight. The term 'cut' is often confused with diamond 'shape', such as round brilliant or princess cut.

Excellent

This is the rarest cut grade and reflects the most light.

Very Good

This cut grade reflects nearly as much light as an Excellent cut grade, but for a lower price.

Good

This cut grade reflects most of the light that enters the diamond, but not as much as a Very Good cut grade.

Fair

This cut grade may appear dull or even glassy, and is very inexpensive.

Poor

This cut grade is not carried by Mesa Jewelers and is typically not recommended.

Excellent
Very Good
Good
Fair
Poor
Not carried by Mesa Jewelers

MORE DIAMONDS

The Color

Color is one of the more noticeable attributes of a diamond and has a heavy impact on the price of the stone. Diamonds range from colorless to yellow or light brown, and are sometimes found in a spectrum of fancy colors, including yellow, blue, and even red diamonds. The less color, the rarer the diamond. After 'Z' on the color scale, diamonds become fancy yellow, which cost more because of their rarity.

Z-N
M-K
Noticeable Color
J
I
H
G
Near Colorless
F
E
D
Colorless
Z-N
M-K
J
I
H
G
F
E
D
Noticeable Color
Near Colorless
Colorless

The Clarity

Diamonds are composed of mostly carbon. During the heating process, other elements become trapped inside, giving each diamond its own unique fingerprint. These inclusions help identify the clarity of your diamond. All diamonds are viewed through a 10x magnification lens by diamond graders.

Flawless

No inclusions or blemishes are visible to a skilled grader.

Internally Flawless

No inclusions and only blemishes are visible to a skilled grader.

Very Very Slightly Included

Inclusions are difficult for a skilled grader to see.

Very Slightly Included

Inclusions are clearly visible but can be characterized as minor.

Slightly Included

Inclusions are noticeable to a skilled grader.

Included

Inclusions are obvious and may affect transparency and brilliance.

FFlawless
IFInternally Flawless
VVS1
VVS2
Very Very Slightly Included
VS1
VS2
Very Slightly Included
SI1
SI2
Slightly Included
I1
I2
I3
Included

MORE DIAMONDS

Shop Loose Diamonds

Information
  • About
  • Blog
  • Services
  • Return & Shipping Policy
  • Financing
  • Education
  • Privacy Policy
Shop Now
  • Engagement
  • Wedding Bands
  • Rings
  • Earrings
  • Pendants
  • Necklaces
  • Bracelets
  • Watches
  • Chains
  • Bridal Sets
  • Clearance
Mesa Jewelers
Downtown Grand Junction
444 Main Street
Grand Junction, CO 81501-2512
(970) 245-1617
Store Information
Hours
Mon - Fri:9:30am - 5:30pm
Saturday:9:30am - 5:00pm
Sunday:11:00am - 4:00pm
Exclusive Offers

Signup for special offers and discounts.

Follow Us
  • GIA Logo
  • Jeweler's Mutual Insurance logo
  • Jewelers of America logo
  • Southeastern Jewelers Organization

© 2023 Mesa Jewelers. All Rights Reserved. Website designed, maintained, and hosted by Punchmark. Accessibility Statement.