The 4cs explained
Every natural diamond began its journey over a billion years ago, deep beneath the earth, long before it ever became a piece of jewelry.
What makes each one different — and each piece you wear truly one of a kind — comes down to four qualities jewelers call the 4Cs:
Carat, Cut, Color, and Clarity.
Here's what they actually mean, and what you can expect from the diamonds we choose for Carat Antwerp.
Carat
Carat is often mistaken for size, but it's really a measure of weight. One carat equals just 0.2 grams. Two diamonds of the same carat weight can look and feel entirely different depending on their cut, which is exactly why carat alone never tells the full story of a diamond's beauty.
Cut
If a diamond dazzles you, thank the cut. It's not about the shape (round, princess, oval) — it's about how precisely the facets are angled to capture and reflect light. A masterfully cut diamond bends light into brilliant flashes; a poorly cut one can look flat, no matter how flawless it is otherwise. Of all the 4Cs, cut is the one that brings a diamond to life.
Color
Diamonds are graded on a scale from icy, colorless white to faint hints of yellow or brown. The rarest, most sought-after diamonds sit at the colorless end, letting light pass through untouched. The differences between grades are subtle — often invisible to the eye — but they matter to those who know what to look for.
Clarity
No two diamonds are perfectly identical, and that's part of their charm. As they form deep underground, diamonds develop tiny natural characteristics called inclusions, nature's own fingerprint. Most are microscopic, invisible without magnification. The fewer and smaller they are, the higher the clarity grade.
Why All Four Matter
No single "C" tells the whole story on its own. A diamond can carry significant weight and still lack fire without the right cut. It can be graded flawless and still feel ordinary if the color isn't right.
True beauty in a diamond comes from the balance of all four working together: weight, brilliance, color, and clarity, each complementing the others. That's the standard we hold every diamond to before it becomes part of a Carat Antwerp piece: not excellence in one C, but harmony across all four.
Frequently Asked Questions
Every Carat Antwerp creation is crafted in solid 18K gold and set with carefully selected natural diamonds.
Each piece is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity and warranty, reflecting our commitment to exceptional craftsmanship, exceptional materials, and lasting quality.
For bespoke requests in platinum or other precious metals, we invite you to contact our team to discuss the available options.
Each Carat Antwerp jewellery piece is accompanied by a Carat Antwerp Certificate of Authenticity, confirming the specifications and details of the piece as described.
For individual centre stones or diamonds of 0.30ct and above, an additional independent diamond grading certificate, such as GIA or HRD, may be included where stated in the product description.
As certification may vary depending on the design, diamond size, and composition of the jewellery piece, we recommend referring to the specific product details for complete information.
For any inquiries or personal assistance, we invite you to contact us at office@caratantwerp.com or by phone at +32 (0) 3 334 22 23 during our working hours, as indicated in the footer of our website.
You may also reach us via our online chat, where our team will be pleased to assist you as promptly as possible.
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