Before the revolutionary grading system of the 4Cs existed, there were several confusing and inconsistent grading systems used. Objective terminology such as “rarest white”, “top Wesselton” and “AAA” were used to categorize the color grades of diamonds.

It wasn’t until the early 1940s that Robert M. Shipley, the founder of GIA, created and modernized the diamond grading system that we know and use today. The 4Cs has provided a framework that has transformed the way diamond quality is defined and communicated and therefore has changed the way diamonds are bought and sold.