Here’s why a diamond’s cut matters so much

Ever wondered why people talk about a diamond’s ‘cut’, and what it means? Here’s why it matters so much, and what to look out for.

A diamond’s cut affects the amount of light the stone reflects. You may have great color, great clarity, and high carat but if the cut only allows for a small fraction of light to be reflected, it diminishes its vibrance.

An excellent cut makes the stone sparkle and can draw the eyes of any onlooker. The cut also determines its quality because it’s not easy nor simple to get the most out of rough stone.

What is a diamond cut?

A diamond cut is characterized as a state of the stone, plan, and style of the diamond. Even though to a lot of people, all diamonds are the same, they are actually very different. So it’s best to know about what is in the diamond cuts and how it affects the stone’s overall allure.

Diamonds are of different shapes and sizes. While some cuts are brilliant and luminous, some are most certainly not. Likewise, a few cuts work better when utilized as a side stone combined with another jewel, yet others work altogether all alone.

A diamond contains two essential segments called crown and pavilion. The ratio between the two segments affects the brilliance of the stone. You can correctly assume that the crown is the top part while the pavilion is the base part. Different parts of the diamond structure include: 

  • Facets – the surfaces of the diamond.
  • Culet – it is a feature at the base tip of the diamond.
  • Table – feature at the top it’s fundamentally the biggest feature
  • Girdle – narrow band found between the crown and the pavilion.
  • Depth ratio – it is the height of the stone measured from table to culet 
  • Diameter – width of a diamond when measured through the girdle

Symmetry, proportion, and polish

Here’s what to look for in symmetry, proportion and polish when choosing a diamond.

Symmetry

The finest diamonds are symmetrical to perfection. That means the facets on either side of it are similar to the facets across it. Today a flawless cut has 58 facets with a culet, and 57 facets without one. 

Gemologists have named the facets so their work can be very specific. The star, kite, and upper girdle facets on the crown of a diamond surround the table, while lower girdle and pavilion facets stretch from the girdle of the diamond down to the culet.

Proportion

It is based on the ideal diamond design of Tolkowsky. He used the diameter of the diamond as the basis for his calculations and made a guideline to achieve the optimum reflection of light: 

  • The total diameter and depth ratio of the gem should be 59.3%. 
  • The table of the diamond should not exceed 53% of the diameter.
  • The diamond’s crown height will be 16.2% of its diameter. 
  • The pavilion’s diamond depth should be 43.1% of its diameter 
  • The angle of the crown should be 34.5 degrees. 
  • The diamond’s pavilion should be a depth of 40.75 degrees.

Polish

One of the final phases in the cutting process is polishing, as all diamonds may collect minor blemishes when they are cut. It is noteworthy to know that these defects obstruct light reflection and diminishes brilliance. 

Diamonds are polished to smooth the surface with diamond dust and other abrasive agents, so that light can enter and exit the gem perfectly.

Diamonds also represent endlessness that is why they’re synonyms with “forever”. So it’s important to get the highest quality and the most sparkling kind out there. The cut is one of its main factors that define its prominent features.