What are the 4Cs of a diamond?

Cut, colour, clarity and carat weight. Cut describes how well the stone has been shaped and faceted to reflect light; colour grades how much yellow tint is present; clarity measures internal inclusions; and carat is the weight of the stone.

Is a lab-grown diamond a real diamond?

Yes. Lab-grown diamonds are chemically and physically identical to mined diamonds, made of the same pure carbon crystal. The difference is how they were formed: over millions of years underground versus weeks in a controlled chamber.

Why is diamond so hard?

The hardness comes from the way carbon atoms bond in a diamond: each atom connects to four neighbours in a strong, three-dimensional network that resists scratching and breaking far better than any other natural mineral.

What is a diamond?

By Jared James · Last updated 21 May 2026

Definition

A diamond is a gemstone made entirely of carbon atoms arranged in a crystal structure so tight and regular that it becomes the hardest naturally occurring material on earth, rating 10 on the Mohs scale. That extreme hardness, combined with its exceptional ability to bend and scatter light into spectral colour, is what makes it so prized in jewellery. Diamonds range from completely colourless to yellow, brown, and rare fancy colours like pink, blue and green, and they are graded using the four Cs: cut, colour, clarity and carat weight. April is the diamond birthstone month.

Frequently asked questions

What are the 4Cs of a diamond?: Cut, colour, clarity and carat weight. Cut describes how well the stone has been shaped and faceted to reflect light; colour grades how much yellow tint is present; clarity measures internal inclusions; and carat is the weight of the stone.
Is a lab-grown diamond a real diamond?: Yes. Lab-grown diamonds are chemically and physically identical to mined diamonds, made of the same pure carbon crystal. The difference is how they were formed: over millions of years underground versus weeks in a controlled chamber.
Why is diamond so hard?: The hardness comes from the way carbon atoms bond in a diamond: each atom connects to four neighbours in a strong, three-dimensional network that resists scratching and breaking far better than any other natural mineral.

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