The cut defines the make and performance of a diamond. For the general outward appearance, please see shape. Once a fancy color and shape are picked out, cut is usually the most important aspect in choosing a diamond. It is comprised of a combination of properties and is the most subjective property of a diamond.
Basics
The beauty of a diamond ultimately depends on how well the diamond was cut. It takes a skilled craftsman to unlock the sparkle and brilliance from within a rough diamond. Our diamonds are hand-cut by experts in North America and Antwerp to the highest industry standards, in order to maximize the beauty of the diamonds. The delicate balance of brilliance, luster, light refraction, multiple reflections, color dispersion and scintillation make up the allure of a diamond. In this regard, all diamonds–mined and grown–are man-made.
There are three primary characteristics that make up the beauty of a cut diamond:
- Brilliance – amount of light returning from the diamond
- Fire – breaking up of light into spectral colors
- Scintillation – sparkle associated with movement
The overall proportions of a diamond determine how much light is returned as brilliance from the diamond, back to the viewer.
- Shallow – Light does not have enough depth to properly return out the top of the diamond. Light is lost out the bottom of the stone.
- Ideal – The correct proportions allow the maximum amount of light to return
- Deep – Excess depth causes light to exit the diamond incorrectly. Light is lost out the side of the stone.
Proportions
There are many shapes of diamonds available, and while their ideal range of proportions vary by shape, they all share common terminology:
- Table – The main facet on the top of the diamond, usually measured as a percent of the diameter.
Larger tables generally return more light, with greater brilliance, though have less scintillation and fire. Smaller tables generally have more fire and scintillation with less brilliance. This is due to the size of the crown angles in relation to the table, and within normal parameters, a larger or smaller table is mainly a personal preference.
- Depth – The distance from the table to the culet, as a percentage of the diameter.
- Diameter – Distance between two opposite sides, measured across the center of the stone in millimeters.
- Girdle – The outer edge of the diamond. This is measured in words and the best girdles are thin, medium or slightly thick. Very thin girdles have to be set more carefully. Thick girdles carry extra weight in the middle of the diamond, but has little impact on the performance.
- Culet – The point on the bottom of the diamond. This is normally closed, to make a point, though sometimes is a small flat facet that cannot usually be see with the naked eye. This can optionally be counted as an extra facet.
- Pavilion – This refers to the lower portion of the diamond, below the girdle. It is measured either as the depth from the girdle to the culet as a percentage of the total depth, or as the angle of the facet relative to the table.
- Crown – This refers to the upper portion of the diamond, above the girdle. It is measured either as the height from the girdle to the table as a percentage of the total depth, or as the angle of the facet relative to the table.
Polish & Symmetry
Polish and symmetry use terms such as ‘very good’, ‘good’, ‘fair’ and ‘poor’ to describe their quality so they may seem like a strong guide to determine overall cut, though they are less important to the overall beauty than the proportions noted above.
Polish describes the smoothness and quality of finish on the surface of the diamond. A smooth surface can better let light through. Poor polish can reduce the intensity of the light performance, in the same way it is easier to see yourself in a smooth, flat mirror, than one that is textured or uneven.
Symmetry refers to the alignment of the facets to each other. Properly aligned facets reflect light at the best angles, allowing the light to travel correctly through the diamond. Poor symmetry causes light to be misdirected as it travels through the diamond.
Generally, a ‘good’ or better rating for polish and symmetry do not adversely impact the beauty of the diamond.
Cut versus Carat Weight
With traditions dating back centuries, Antwerp cutters bring the diamond to life, focusing on maximizing the quality and beauty, not the weight of the diamond. Since diamonds are sold by their carat weight, many cutters try to maximize weight, sacrificing cut in the process. Weight is worthless if the diamond has little or no brilliance, fire or scintillation.
A well cut diamond will make a much stronger impact than a larger yet lesser cut diamond. For example, a 0.50 carat ideal cut diamond will sparkle across a crowded room, while a poor cut 1.0 carat diamond may not make a statement even up close.
Diamond Cut Charts
Many proportion charts exist for white diamonds and they all vary slightly, though the most well-known is the Tolkowsky Ideal Cut. These typically use mathematical ideals to determine appropriate ranges for depth, table, crown and pavilion angles as well as other important criteria. We can provide all the relevant attributes to be measured in cut calculators such as the Holloway Cut Adviser for round brilliants. These charts and calculators should be used to narrow down a selection, but to decide your final choice, all criteria should be considered together, including: color, clarity, polish, symmetry, availability and your budget.
Cut in Colored Diamonds
Ideal cut charts measure the amount of white light return in a diamond, which isn’t necessarily the most important factor when choosing a colored diamond, such as a blue or yellow. The closer a colored diamond is to an ‘ideal cut’, the more ambient (white) light that enters the diamond will be retuned, and thus less colored light returned. This same logic applies to white diamonds, in that an ideal cut ‘H’ color should “face up” whiter than a good cut ‘G’ color, even though the ‘H’ has more nitrogen. Since the saturation levels vary from one colored diamond to the next, it makes it difficult to categorize the colored light performance based solely on cut proportions.
Our diamonds are hand-cut for beauty, not weight. They are all well cut by experts, based on the specifics of each individual rough diamond. While a colored diamond can accurately be checked against white light return charts, for most people, the color and saturation are more important criteria than the white light return.
Cut versus Shape
The round brilliant is by far the most studied shape for cut. Its proportion and symmetry allow the application of guidelines better than other fancy shapes. In fancy shapes, such as a princess or cushion, the cut is more complex and cannot be as decisively predicted with charts.
Cut in Grading Reports
With mined diamonds, an AGS ‘0’ or ‘Ideal’ along with a GIA ‘Excellent’ are generally considered the ‘best cut’. AGS does not currently grade lab-created diamonds and GIA does not currently provide a cut grading or detailed proportion information on their lab-created diamond reports.
Most of our diamonds .30cts and over are graded by IGI New York. These grading reports contain all the appropriate percents, angles, measurements and information to determine the make of the diamond.