Diamond’s are renowned for their incredible sparkle and it’s their cut that gives them their infamous glitter-like twinkle. Diamond cut refers to the symmetrical facets, and the quality of the stones angles and proportions. It’s a measure of how these properties determine the amount of light that is able to enter in and reflect out of the stone, allowing the diamonds to vibrantly sparkle underneath any light.
Diamond Cut Is Different To Diamond Shape!
Diamonds come in all different shapes and sizes, and it’s a common misconception that diamond cut and shape are the same thing. Although diamond cut is often a phrase that’s used to refer to the different types of diamond shapes, (such as round, cushion, pear, oval and emerald etc) diamond cut is specifically referencing the quality of angles within the stone, and how well they allow light to refract inside the diamond.
How Is Diamond Cut Graded?
Compared to all of the other 4Cs, diamond cut is the hardest to analyse due to its complexity. The Gemological Institute of America (when grading a standard round brilliant cut diamond) calculates the proportions of any facets that influence the appearance of the diamond when it’s viewed from the front up. “These proportions allow the GIA to evaluate what the best cut for a diamond is, by studying how successfully a diamond interacts with light to create desirable visual effects, such as:
Brightness: Internal and external white light reflected from a diamond
Fire: The scattering of white light into all the colors of the rainbow
Scintillation: The amount of sparkle a diamond produces, and the pattern of light and dark areas caused by reflections within the diamond”
The GIA diamond cut grading scale sees diamonds graded from:
Ideal
Excellent
Very Good
Good
Fair
Poor
If a diamond cut is graded Ideal or Excellent, it insinuates that the stones proportions and angles have been cut allowing for a maximum sparkle and shine!
The Importance Of Diamond Cut:
Cutting a stone requires an expert precision and artistry in order for the proportions of the stone to deliver the impeccable return of light that diamonds are so famous for. If a stone is cut exceptionally well, (like this one IMG_3022) then due to the play of light and sparkle, it can actually help to disguise any inclusions or blemishes found present within the diamond. The cut of a diamond can transform a stone that isn’t as good ‘on paper’, into the most incredible glittery gem. On the other side of the spectrum, if a stone is poorly cut, then it can actually create an emphasis on any impurities within the stone’s clarity, as well as leaving the gem feeling dull and lifeless. For this reason, we would suggest that diamond cut is one of the more important of the 4c’s to consider when purchasing one of these beautiful gemstones, as it plays a crucial role in determining the stones overall final appearance.
There’s definitely a lot of qualities to consider when it comes to choosing a diamond, but it’s not as scary as it sounds! Book your free design consultationtoday to have a chat with our in-house experts, who will guide you through the process and help you find your perfect diamond…
