While carat and size might seem similar and interchangeable, they actually refer to different aspects of a diamond. Size refers to the dimensions of the stone and is measured in millimetres, while carat, NOT grams, specifies its weight.

We understand that the concept of carat can be confusing, so we’ll break it down to you with some examples. Imagine two diamonds, both weighing 1 carat. If the first diamond is cut very deep, it will appear smaller, closer in size to a typical 0.80-carat stone. On the other hand, if the second diamond is cut very shallow, it might look larger, more like a 1.25-carat stone, but this often comes at the expense of quality and diminished sparkle. Ideally, a well-cut 1-carat diamond will have both the size and sparkle that one expects from a 1-carat stone.

Improper cutting can prevent the diamond from achieving its full brilliance, often causing the centre to appear dark or lifeless. When diamonds are cut too deep or too shallow, their quality is compromised.

Of the 4 Cs, Colour is perhaps the simplest to understand. The Colour grade of a diamond refers to its lack of colour. The finest diamonds are completely colourless, which allows their natural brilliance to be on full display. Essentially, the whiter—or more transparent—a diamond is, the more valuable it becomes. As you move down the colour scale, faint hints of yellow or brown become more apparent, which can diminish the diamond's overall value. The GIA colour grading scale ranges from D (completely colourless) to Z (light yellow or brown). For easier classification, these grades are grouped into tiers, as even a one or two-grade difference can be challenging to notice without specialized training.

D,E,F (colourless)
D-F grade diamonds represent the highest level of colour grading and are among the rarest. These diamonds are completely colourless, meaning they have no visible yellow or brown tints, making them exceptionally clear and bright. D, E and F are grouped together since they are all considered "colourless" because, once set into jewellery, they appear identical to the naked eye. To accurately differentiate a D-colour diamond from an F-colour one, both diamonds need to be loose and compared side by side against a pure white background.

G,H (near colourless)
G-H grade diamonds are grouped together as "near colourless". While they do have a very faint hint of colour, this tint is difficult to notice with the naked eye. Once set in a piece of jewellery, these diamonds appear nearly white and can easily pass as colourless in most lighting conditions. Only when loose and directly compared to truly colourless diamonds can the slight difference be visible.

I,J (very faint Colour)
I-J grade diamonds are more common and considered of lower quality compared to higher colour grades like D-F and G-H. They are grouped together as having a very faint colour, with a slight yellow, brown, or grey tint that becomes more apparent when placed alongside diamonds from the colourless or near colourless categories. A colour grade below J will have deeper tint of yellow, brown, or grey hues, making them more noticeable.

Recommended by Novita: Since D-F colour diamonds are all clear and colourless, they appear very similar to an untrained eye. Selecting a D-coloured diamond over an E or F grade often comes down to simple personal preference instead. If you choose a diamond with a colour grade of F or higher, you can put aside more of your budget towards improving other aspects of the diamond, such as its cut and shape.
On the other hand, G-H colour diamonds are a practical "budget stone" since they still appear mostly colourless and can provide considerable cost savings, allowing you to afford a larger stone than you might with a D-F colour diamond.

Recommendation: Going for diamonds with D-G Colour can save you money or help get a bigger stone.

The Cut grade might be the last but is the most crucial of the 4C’s. The Cut grade is central to what makes a diamond truly a diamond: the sparkle, fire, and brilliance depend completely on the quality of the Cut. A diamond that is not well-proportioned, being either too deep or too shallow, will allow light to escape from the bottom making it look lifeless. A properly proportioned and cut diamond should have all the light entering through the sides, or the facets, reflect upwards through internal reflection. This creates the brilliant sparkle, as the light reflects off each facet and returns upward to the eye, giving the diamond a radiant and almost magical look. Even a diamond of extremely high quality in every other category can still look dull and lifeless if the cut is compromised.

Recommended by Novita: Never compromise on the cut grade and always go for a diamond that is either an Ideal Cut or an Excellent Cut.

Each of our lab grown diamonds in our showroom have been thoroughly inspected by our gemmologists and only the top of each colour and clarity grade are kept for purchase by our customer. You can take full advantage of our gemmologists hard work by visiting our showroom or purchasing from our site’s showroom selection. We still invite you visit our Singapore showroom and let our experts help you find the best man made diamond engagement ring that matches your budget and preference for you or your loved one.

Note: When on our Novita website, you can easily filter diamonds to your liking by the diamond 4Cs category, as shown in the image below.

You can further filter the available diamonds in our showroom by clicking on the 'AVAILABLE IN SHOWROOM' tab and checking its availability in the 'SHOWROOM' column. Remember the showroom mark also means the lab created diamonds have been individually inspected by our experts.