DIAMOND CUT
What Is Diamond Cut?
The most important of the 4Cs—cut—refers to how a diamond’s facets interact with light. It is determined by symmetry, proportion and polish. More than any other factor, cut determines the beauty of the stone.
What Impacts Diamond Cut Quality?
Cut is the only one of the 4Cs that is affected by human hands. Two diamonds may have the same clarity, color and carat weight, but cut is what determines whether or not one is superior to the other. Put simply, cut is responsible for the quality and degree of a diamond’s sparkle. There are three factors that determine a diamond’s cut:
Precision of Cut
How the size and angles relate to the different parts of the stone
Symmetry
How precisely the various facets of a diamond align and intersect
Polish
The details and placement of the facet shapes as well as the outside finish of the diamond
The highest cut grade in the industry, triple excellent, is given to a diamond with an “excellent” rating in precision of cut, symmetry and polish.
Why Is Diamond Cut Important?
If a diamond is cut poorly, it will appear dull even if it has a high color and clarity grade. If a diamond is cut well, it will reflect and refract light for maximum brightness and sparkle.
Types of Diamond Cuts
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Brilliant Cut
The brilliant cut is the most popular facet arrangement. It is made of triangular and kite-shaped facets, all arranged to optimize brilliance, or light return. The round brilliant diamond, which has 57 to 58 facets, is the most brilliant of the diamond cuts. Cushion, oval, marquise, pear and heart-shaped diamonds are also cut using the brilliant faceting style and are similar to the round brilliant in degree of sparkle.
Step Cut
Step-cut diamonds have trapezoidal facets that run parallel to the diamond’s girdle, resembling a set of stairs. This faceting style emphasizes a diamond’s color and clarity. The most well-known step cut is the emerald cut.
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