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Cut doesn’t mean the shape (like oval or emerald) — it’s about how well the diamond has been cut and proportioned.
A well-cut diamond captures light beautifully, giving you that breathtaking sparkle. If the cut is too shallow or too deep, the diamond can look dull, even if it has great color and clarity.
Pro Tip: Always prioritize cut first! A well-cut diamond will outshine a bigger or clearer diamond every time.
Cut Grades:
Excellent | Very Good | Good | Fair | Poor
At McKay Diamonds, we generally recommend sticking to Excellent cuts — it makes a huge difference!
Color refers to how "white" or colorless a diamond appears.
Diamonds are graded on a scale from D (perfectly colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown tones).
D-F: Colorless (rarest and most valuable)
G-J: Near-colorless (great value )
K-M: Faint color (can look beautiful in yellow gold settings)
Pro Tip: Color is graded by comparing diamonds side by side, so depending on the design- color may be a great place to be flexible based on budget.
Clarity measures how free a diamond is from internal flaws (inclusions) and surface imperfections (blemishes).
Almost all diamonds have tiny inclusions — they’re nature’s fingerprints — but many are so small you’ll never see them without a jeweler’s loupe.
Clarity Grades:
FL (Flawless) | IF (Internally Flawless) | VVS1-VVS2 (Very Very Slight) | VS1-VS2 (Very Slight) | SI1-SI2 (Slightly Included) | I1-I3 (Included)
Pro Tip: A VS1 or even VS2 clarity diamond often looks "eye clean" — meaning you can’t see any flaws without magnification — but costs much less than a Flawless one.
Carat is the measurement of how much a diamond weighs.
People often think bigger automatically means better — but remember, a poorly cut big diamond will look less sparkly than a smaller, well-cut one!
Pro Tip:
You can save money by choosing a diamond just below major carat milestones.
For example: a 0.90-carat diamond often costs significantly less than a 1.00-carat diamond but looks nearly the same size.
If you want the most sparkle for your budget: prioritize Cut first.
After that, adjust Color and Clarity based on your personal style and setting choice. Carat comes last — because size without sparkle just isn’t satisfying.
And remember: there’s no single "right" combination — just the right one for you.
At McKay Diamonds, we take time to explain your options clearly — no pressure, no confusing jargon — so you feel confident and excited about your choice.