The 4Cs of Diamond Quality: Choosing the Perfect Engagement Ring in Singapore

For an engagement ring to truly shine, the gemstone sitting atop it must be of high quality. Chances are, you've heard about the 4Cs to keep in mind when shopping for a diamond engagement ring or one featuring another gemstone like moissanite. No proposal event will be complete without an engagement ring. This blog will provide a detailed guide on the elements of cut, colour, clarity and carat— collective referred to the 4Cs of diamond quality—what they are, and what you should look for in your search for the perfect engagement ring in Singapore.

Cut

The cut of a gemstone refers to the quality of its proportions, angles and symmetrical characteristics. All these factors come together to ensure a gemstone's sparkle. Brilliance, fire and scintillation are common words used to describe the visual elements maximised by a diamond or moissanite's specific cut. Brilliance refers to the brightness emanating from the gemstone when light reflects; scintillation refers to the blinking flashes we see across the gemstone's surface; fire refers to the coloured sparks we see throughout the jewel.

Diamond and moissanite are usually graded on a scale from Excellent to Poor. Princess Gem ensures that the moissanite gemstones on our engagement rings are certified as "Excellent". You can rest assured that the ring sitting on your sweetheart's finger will provide optimal shine and sparkle.

Colour

The colour of a diamond or moissanite can range from clear to yellowish. A gemstone's colour is graded on a scale from D to Z, with D-grade gemstones being colourless and Z-grade gemstones possessing a noticeable yellowish tint. Traditional aesthetic sensibilities incline towards colourless diamonds and moissanite. The lower the gemstone sits on the scale, the more desirable it is deemed to be. Unless specifically requested, no girl wants to be presented with a yellowish diamond or moissanite engagement ring during the proposal event. At Princess Gem, the colour of our moissanite gems are graded either D, E or F, and fall on the colourless end of the spectrum.

Clarity

Clarity refers to the imperfections and blemishes or lack thereof on the surface of or inside a gemstone. Most natural gemstones (like diamonds) tend to have flaws as they are formed deep in the earth under heat and pressure. Some particularly large inclusions can be seen with the unaided eye. These blemishes hinder the path of direct light that travels through and across a gemstone, potentially reducing its sparkle, shine and overall attractiveness. The size and severity of these inclusions will affect the grade of the gemstone.

At Princess Gem, our lab-grown moissanite gemstones all have a VVS grade. This grading means that whatever microscopic imperfections possessed by the gem cannot be seen with the naked eye.

Carat

Metric carats are used to measure a diamond or moissanite's physical weight, with 1 carat being the equivalent of 0.2 grams. 1 carat is traditionally the favoured size for an engagement ring's centre stone. While they may look almost the same, the cost difference between a 0.9 carat diamond and a 1 carat diamond can be upwards of thousands of dollars. At Princess Gem, we offer 1 carat moissanite engagement rings that are optically similar to a diamond with the added benefit of substantial cost savings. Besides possessing visual similarities, moissanite is also highly durable and sits at 9.0 to 9.25 on the Mohs hardness scale, making them one of the toughest gemstones on the planet and perfect for daily wear.

Shop Elegant Moissanite Engagement Rings in Singapore

Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat are essential components to consider when shopping for an engagement ring. Founded in Singapore, Princess Gem pays exceptional attention to the 4Cs of our premium, lab-grown moissanite gemstones. Our engagement rings all feature 1 carat moissanite gems possessing an excellent cut, near-invisible inclusions and an almost colourless quality. Moissanite engagement rings offer a luxurious alternative to traditional diamond rings at an affordable price point. The Parisian-inspired designs we offer at Princess Gem are sure to wow your future bride at your proposal event!