The Tiffany & Co. Guide to Diamonds

The Guide to Diamonds

At Tiffany & Co., nearly 1,500 of the world’s most talented artisans craft our diamonds. We are the only jeweller to offer a triple excellent cut—the highest grade in the industry—on all round brilliant engagement diamonds. As a result, only the most expertly crafted diamonds earn the right to be placed in the legendary Tiffany Blue Box®.
The 4Cs of Diamonds
The 4Cs
Every diamond, like a human fingerprint, has certain distinguishing characteristics. The 4Cs—colour, clarity, cut and carat weight—are the globally accepted standards for assessing the quality of a diamond. At Tiffany, we only accept 0.04% of the world’s gem-grade diamonds.
CUT
Cut
Cut is determined by how a diamond’s facets interact with light.
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Clarity
Clarity
Clarity is a measure of the purity and rarity of the stone.
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Colour
Colour
Colour refers to the natural tint inherent in white diamonds.
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Carat
Carat
Carat denotes the weight of a diamond.
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Diamond Shapes
Diamond Shapes
Every diamond shape has its own unique appeal. Discover the diamond shape that reflects your personal style and relationship.
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Styles and Settings

Styles and Settings

There is nothing more iconic than a Tiffany engagement ring. Discover our classic and contemporary designs.
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Tiffany & Co. Diamond Source Initiative
The Leader in Diamond Traceability
We believe fine craftsmanship starts with a respect for our natural world, responsibly sourcing high-quality raw materials and continues through to the creation of the final piece of jewellery. From the moment they are unearthed, Tiffany diamonds selected for our engagement rings never leave the hands of highly skilled artisans, who work with passion and precision to unleash intense vibrancy and light. Once a rough diamond is deemed worthy of the Tiffany name, it is delivered to our diamond cutting experts and our master craftspeople. Tiffany is proud to employ nearly 1,500 expert cutters and polishers in our own state-of-the-art workshops to ensure our sourcing practices honour the places and people that provide us with such astonishing beauty. We go above and beyond the Kimberley Process—with our own chain of custody controls and by advocating for stronger global standards—to ensure that human rights and the environment are protected.
Explore Our Diamond Source Initiative
Explore Tiffany & Co. Diamond Engagement Rings

Engagement Rings

In 1886, Tiffany introduced the engagement ring as we know it today. We are proud to build on that legacy as the leader in diamond traceability with responsibly sourced, expertly crafted diamond rings that celebrate love in all its forms.
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Ask a Tiffany Diamond Expert

Tiffany Diamond Experts can assist you in choosing an engagement ring, personalising a wedding band or selecting a special anniversary gift.

Frequently Asked Questions
A diamond is a stone formed from the element carbon. Under high temperature and pressure, atoms form a crystal structure called a diamond cubic.
Formed up to three billion years ago below the surface of the earth, diamonds are a miracle of nature. Of the limited number of gem-grade diamonds in the world, only 0.04% meet our exacting standards. For every 10,000 rough diamonds we evaluate, only four will make the cut.
Cut, clarity, colour and carat weight make up the 4Cs.

A diamond’s quality depends on a combination of the 4Cs—colour, clarity, cut and carat weight. However, Tiffany & Co. believes the most critical of these is diamond cut. More than any other factor, cut determines the brilliance, fire and overall beauty of your diamond. If a diamond is cut poorly, it will appear dull even if it has a high colour and clarity grade.

Tiffany is committed to crafting the most expertly proportioned diamonds. In our workshops, nearly 1,500 of the world’s most talented artisans craft diamonds to the highest standards. This precision is what sets Tiffany diamonds apart.

To learn more about the 4Cs, visit The Guide to Diamonds.

The 4Cs—colour, clarity, cut and carat weight—are the globally accepted standards for assessing the quality of a diamond.

A diamond’s quality depends on a combination of all the 4Cs. However, Tiffany & Co. believes the most critical of these is diamond cut. More than any other factor, cut determines the brilliance, fire and overall beauty of your diamond.

However, if care is not taken care of, dust, dirt, and daily wear will gradually fade the lustre of gemstones and cause platinum and gold surfaces to lose their lustre. Tiffany & Co. recommends that your ring be professionally maintained on a regular basis. Tiffany’s skilled professionals will clean the ring after checking the setting. When not professionally cleaning, we recommend only occasional use of the Tiffany Jewellery Cleaning Kit or the Diamond Jewellery Non-abrasive Cleaner. Jewellery with stones other than diamonds may require other care.
Conflict-free diamonds are diamonds sourced only from countries that fully participate in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. Conflict-free diamonds are not used to fund armed activities against legitimate governments. Tiffany & Co. has a zero-tolerance policy for conflict diamonds, and we strictly adhere to and exceed the Kimberley Process.
That is right. Tiffany & Co. has a zero-tolerance policy for conflict diamonds. Tiffany & Co. ethically sources its diamonds from known mines and suppliers, and the majority of Tiffany rough diamonds are from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Russia and Canada.
Natural diamonds form naturally under the earth’s surface over many years. Synthetic diamonds are man-made diamonds that can be formed in a short amount of time. Natural diamonds usually have small amounts of nitrogen or other intrinsic properties, whereas synthetic diamonds have none. Tiffany & Co. ethically sources its diamonds from known mines and suppliers, and the majority of Tiffany rough diamonds are from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Canada.
We believe that great craftsmanship starts with reliable gemstones. At Tiffany & Co., it is important to share the journey of diamonds. Unlike other jewellery brands, Tiffany sources most of its diamonds and precious metals from known sources.
As part of our diamond journey, Tiffany & Co. is committed to ethical practices at every stage of the diamond-making process. Tiffany diamonds go through a meticulous journey from the moment they are unearthed, through the hands of artisans located around the world, and finally in the iconic Tiffany Blue Box®. In 2020, Tiffany & Co. became the first global luxury jewellery brand to disclose the countries in which its newly sourced and individually registered diamonds are made. Tiffany & Co. is pleased to share additional information about our sourcing practices and the origin of our individually registered diamonds. If you have any questions, please email Tiffany Client Care or contact a Tiffany store sales specialist. When you visit the store, take advantage of the complimentary cleaning service and prong check on any ring you purchase, or take a look at the iconic Tiffany True® engagement ring.
Some recommend elongated shapes such as oval, pear and emerald cuts that look great on the finger, while others may think that it is the brilliance of round brilliant diamonds that makes a ring stand out in a room full of people.