Master Class 01
The
4Cs.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) created the global standard for diamond quality. Learn to read a diamond beyond its sparkle.
The Ritzin Standard
"We only select the top 1% of diamonds that meet our rigorous standards for ethics and internal brilliance."
Why the 4Cs
matter to you.
Until the middle of the 20th century, there was no agreed-upon standard by which diamonds could be judged. A diamond was simply 'good' or 'fair' based on the seller's opinion.
The GIA created the 4Cs (Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat) to give you an objective way to know exactly what you are paying for. At Ritzin, we use this data to ensure you get the best value for your budget.
01. Cut
For Brilliance & Fire
02. Color
For Purity & Tone
03. Clarity
For Rarity & Perfection
04. Carat
For Presence & Size
Diamond Cut.
Cut is the most important of the 4Cs. It determines how a diamond captures light. A well-cut stone will reflect light from one surface to another and send it back out the top as a brilliant flash.
Brilliance
The white light that reflects from the surface and inside of the stone.
Fire
The flashes of color that occur when light hits the diamond's angles.
Scintillation
The sparkle produced when the stone or the light source moves.
Symmetry
How precisely the facets (sides) of the diamond line up with each other.
The Cut Grade Table
Super Ideal
The top 0.1% of diamonds. Reflects 98% of light for maximum brilliance.
Ideal
Excellent light return. The standard for all Ritzin engagement rings.
Very Good
Reflects most light. Offers great value for shoppers on a budget.
Good
Reflects much of the light, but lacks the same fire of higher grades.
The GIA Color
Grading Scale.
Color is graduated from 'D' to 'Z'. Understanding these subtle differences can help you save significantly on your purchase without sacrificing visual beauty.
The most rare and expensive. These diamonds have no visible tint even under magnification.
Minimal tint, almost invisible when set in a ring. This is the 'sweet spot' for most engagement rings.
A warm tint that is visible to the naked eye, often paired specifically with Yellow Gold.
Master Jeweler Tip
"If you are choosing a yellow gold setting, the metal's natural warmth will mask a slight yellow tint in the stone. You can safely choose an 'I' or 'J' grade diamond."
Diamond Color.
In white diamonds, color is actually the absence of color. The GIA scale starts at D (Colorless) and goes to Z (Light Yellow). Truly colorless diamonds are very rare and have the most sharp sparkle.
Color becomes more visible as the diamond size increases. For stones over 2.0 carats, we recommend starting at the 'H' grade or higher to ensure a bright, white appearance.
Diamond Clarity.
Diamonds are miracles of nature, formed deep in the earth. Most have tiny birthmarks called 'inclusions.' Clarity measures how clean the stone is under 10x magnification.
FL - IF
No marks. Absolute rarity.
VVS1 - VVS2
Tiny marks, expert find.
VS1 - VS2
Small marks, lens required.
SI1 - SI2
Eye-clean value standard.
Microscopic View
Zooming 50x into a VS1 Grade diamond's geometry.
The "Eye-Clean" Philosophy
An "Eye-Clean" diamond is one whose inclusions are invisible to the naked eye. At Ritzin, we manually inspect every VS2 and SI1 stone to ensure it meets this criteria, giving you the best visual quality for a smarter price.
Carat Weight
vs Appearance.
Carat is a measure of weight, not visual size. Two 1-carat diamonds can look different in size if one is cut deeper than the other.
0.5 ct
5.1 mm
Subtle Elegance
1.0 ct
6.5 mm
The Gold Standard
1.5 ct
7.4 mm
Breathtaking Scale
2.0 ct
8.1 mm
Ultimate Luxury
Carat Weight.
One carat is exactly 200 milligrams. As weight increases, the price increases exponentially because finding large, high-quality diamonds in the earth is extremely rare.
Weight Distribution Analysis
Smart Shopper Insight
To maximize your budget, consider "undersize" diamonds. A 0.95-carat stone will look identical to a 1.0-carat stone to the naked eye but can often be purchased for a 15% lower price.
Beyond the 4Cs.
A diamond's true brilliance isn't found in a lab report alone. We look for two extra pillars: Ethical Origin and Atomic Purity.
Blockchain Origin
Every Ritzin stone is tracked via blockchain from the moment it leaves the earth. True transparency.
Shape Synergy
We select pear, emerald, and oval cuts with specific ratios to ensure the maximum visual surface area.
Fluorescence
We strictly avoid 'Strong Blue' fluorescence to ensure your diamond never looks milky or hazy in sunlight.
Verified Reports
No second-tier labs. We only provide GIA and IGI reports, the gold standard of global verification.
Chemical Purity
Our Type IIa diamonds are the most chemically pure in the world, once reserved for royalty.
Lifetime Service
Your education doesn't end today. We provide free lifetime cleaning and stone inspections.
Your masterclass
is complete.
Put your expertise into practice. Explore our collection of ethical diamonds and find the one that resonates.