Since 1902, Lister Horsfall has been synonymous with timeless elegance and exceptional craftsmanship. When it comes to choosing the perfect diamond, the 4Cs—Cut, Colour, Clarity, and Carat—are essential in understanding a diamond’s quality and beauty. These four key elements determine not only the diamond’s value but also its sparkle, brilliance, and character.
The cut of a diamond is arguably its most important characteristic, as it directly affects how the diamond interacts with light. A well-cut diamond will sparkle and shine in a way that captures attention, reflecting light in all directions. At Lister Horsfall, we understand that a diamond’s cut is about more than just its shape—it’s the precise angles and proportions that create its brilliance. Whether a round brilliant or an emerald cut, the quality of the cut will determine how a diamond catches the eye, ensuring it stands out in any setting.
A diamond’s colour refers to the presence or absence of colour in the stone. The less colour a diamond has, the rarer and more valuable it becomes. The ideal diamond is completely colourless, allowing light to pass through and reflect its full brilliance. At Lister Horsfall, we carefully select diamonds that are graded for their exceptional colour, ensuring each stone’s purity shines through. The colour scale ranges from D (colourless) to Z (light yellow or brown), with diamonds in the D-H range being the most desirable for their near-colorless appearance.
Clarity refers to the absence of internal or external imperfections, known as inclusions and blemishes. These natural marks can affect the diamond’s overall appearance, but at Lister Horsfall, we choose only diamonds that meet the highest clarity standards. Most inclusions are microscopic and can only be seen under magnification, and many of our diamonds are of such high clarity that they appear flawless to the naked eye. The clarity scale ranges from Flawless (FL) to Included (I1, I2, I3), with diamonds in the FL-VS2 range offering excellent value and visual purity.
Carat weight measures the size of a diamond, and larger diamonds are rarer and generally more expensive. However, carat weight doesn’t always dictate a diamond’s overall appearance. For instance, a smaller diamond with an excellent cut may appear more brilliant than a larger stone with a poor cut. At Lister Horsfall, we focus on helping you find a balance between carat weight, cut quality, and overall value. The right carat weight is the one that suits your personal style and enhances the design of your chosen piece.
At Lister Horsfall, we’ve spent over a century refining our expertise in selecting diamonds that embody the perfect balance of the 4Cs. Our knowledgeable team is here to guide you through this essential process, helping you find the diamond that truly speaks to you. Whether you're looking for an engagement ring, a gift, or a family heirloom, we ensure that each diamond meets our high standards for beauty, quality, and craftsmanship.
