When discussing a diamond’s cut, it can refer to both its shape and its proportions. Natural diamond crystals, or “diamond rough”, comes out of the ground looking dull and has an octahedral shape. Professional cutting will transform the raw mineral into a beautiful, faceted gem. The cutting of diamonds is difficult and can be very risky. A trained diamond cutter studies and practices for years to hone this ancient skill. The art of diamond cutting requiring specialized knowledge, tools and equipment, and is considered both a skill and a science.
When it comes to the shape of diamonds, there are numerous choices. The standard shapes are round, emerald, oval, pear, marquise, princess, and trillion. There are also many contemporary proprietary cuts, such as the “hearts and arrows” and the “ideal” cut, as well as custom designed cuts. Choosing a shape is solely a personal choice. The popularity of some shapes go in and out with the fashion trends of the day, yet the round cut always remains a classic for the solitaire engagement ring.
The cut releases the scintillation or “fire” inside the rough diamond, and can influence the color grade. It takes carefully planned facet arrangements and proportions to create the dispersion of light or the “sparkle” of a diamond. Poor cutting can affect the way light enters into the diamond, bounces, and refracts back out of the diamond. A diamond that is cut too shallow, or too deep will cause light to leak out and create negative effects on the “sparkle factor”, such as or dark patches or areas in the diamond that are washed out.
Facets are the flat angles cut into the diamonds surface. The largest facet on the diamond is called the table, while the smallest facet is called the culet. A round brilliant diamond has 58 facets divided into 33 on the crown, or top section of the diamond, and 24 facets on the pavilion, or bottom section, of the diamond. This is known as the best cut for diamonds because it shows off the most brilliance.
The cut is the most complex factor in categorizing a diamond’s grade. The GIA “cut” grading scale ranks cuts from Excellent to Poor. Grading the cut involves examining many subtle indicators such as angles, symmetry, proportions, polish, and girdle thickness all of which will affect the diamond’s value. Strictly reading statistics on paper or on the internet, to compare the price between diamonds is impossible and misleading. You must see and compare the diamonds to visualize the way the cut affects the beauty.
Corrine will compare several diamonds with you, in person, during your diamond exploration consultation. She will explain the certification and how all of the factors weigh in on the value of the diamond, so that you will make your purchase with confidence.
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