Carat, one of the 4Cs of diamonds, is the globally recognized measurement for a diamond's weight (distinct from karat, which gauges gold purity) for natural and lab grown diamonds. A 1-carat diamond weighs 0.20 grams. It's important to note that the carat doesn't determine a diamond's size; that's determined by its dimensions in millimeters, specifically its diameter. Diamond carat weight really comes down to personal preferences in terms of the size and look of the engagement ring and how it looks on your finger.

Diamonds are cut to enhance sparkle, fire, brilliance, and overall visual allure. Before being cut and polished, diamonds are referred to as rough diamonds, possessing an opaque surface with minimal to no sparkle due to the absence of facets. The sparkle of a diamond cut results from its ability to internally reflect and bounce light as it hits. The art of cutting a diamond, including facet angles, sizes, and locations, significantly influences its light performance and the extent of its sparkle.

Diamond clarity refers to the natural imperfections, such as inclusions and blemishes, found in nearly all diamonds except the rarest ones. A higher level of clarity signifies fewer imperfections, resulting in enhanced sparkle and light performance. Though often microscopic, these imperfections can impact a diamond's brilliance by obstructing light refraction. To evaluate and compare clarity, gemologists use a standardized scale established by GIA, known as the diamond clarity scale, recognized across the industry for its precision and consistency

Both natural and lab grown diamonds come in a variety of colors, with clear stones, commonly known as white diamonds, and fancy-colored diamonds, exhibiting vivid hues like pink, green, and yellow. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) uses a D-to-Z scale to standardize color grading for natural diamonds. At the same time, the International Gemological Institute (IGI) employs a similar scale for lab grown diamonds. Interestingly, diamond color grading assesses the absence of color, with higher grades indicating less color presence.