Why is the cut the most important quality of a diamond? ~ Diamond Inhouse Blogs

The cut is the most important factor to be considered while buying a diamond. Well, it plays a major role in effecting the shine and sparkle of the diamond, and the sparkling feature is on a top priority for everyone. The diamond cut has the power to make a diamond of lower color and clarity look spectacular. And yet, a diamond with the top color and clarity can look horrible if it has a weak cut.

Factors for determining Diamond Cut quality:

Diamond Cut is an important element in determining the beauty and brilliance of any diamond, there are some complexities. Many factors play a role when a diamond’s cut quality is determined.

The main factors impacting Diamond Cut Quality are:

Proportions: It includes the ratios and sizes of the diamond’s table, depth, and width.

Symmetry: It includes the precision of the facets, mirrors etc.

Polish: It includes the shine and sparkle of the diamond surface.

The diamond you have purchased seems like having a perfect shape, or the perfect color but the cutting of the diamond is very weak, which makes the diamond look dull and no proper sparkling comes from it, and you have purchased it at a very higher price. So, for this reason, you should know a little bit about the diamond cuts.

PROPORTIONS

Further, the factors impacting Diamond Cut quality, let's understand the proportions, primarily its table, width, and depth in short. These elements are easily understandable and are one of the best indicators of a diamond’s cut quality.

Proportions are the ratios between the size, angle, and shape of each diamond facet. This will help you learn how the diamond will interact with light giving an overall beauty and lasting appeal.

Diamond Table:

Diamond table % is determined by dividing the width that is the top surface area by the width diameter of the diamond. For example, if the table is 3.5mm wide, and the diamond is 5mm wide, table % is considered is 70%.

Diamond Width:

A diamond’s width is defined by measuring from one end of its girdle (the diameter at one point) to the other end of the girdle.

Diamond Depth:

A diamond depth is considered as the height of the diamond from top i.e. table to bottom i.e. Culet (the tip).

There can be different types of cut (as the image shows) Ideal Diamond cut, Deep diamond cut, and Shallow diamond cut.

What Is an Ideal Diamond Cut?

The way a diamond is cut completely affects its appearance. The term “ideal diamond cut” is used mainly when any diamond shape with the brilliance in its shape and sparkling feature. The closer your diamond is to the ideal cut, the better and more expensive it will be.

What is a Deep cut?

Any diamond’s depth is too high relative to the stone’s width, this means that diamond is cut too deep, and considered as a deep cut. The light cannot travel properly in deep cuts to provide the same sparkle which comes from the ideal cut. Diamonds that are cut this way look less lively and have lower brightness compared with ideal diamonds.

What is a Shallow cut?

The diamond which is often cut to make them look bigger is the shallow cut. They are also called “spread diamonds”. It comes at the cost of reduced brilliance and sparkle. In general, this type of cut of any diamond will reduce its beauty as compared to the ideal cut.

SYMMETRY

Symmetry refers to how diamond size and shape of the facets, table with the culet, etc. are into consideration by the experts. A diamond with poor symmetry will make the light misdirect when it travels into the diamond, sending it off at slightly wrong angles, and thereby reducing its brilliance.

POLISH

Polish refers to the degree of smoothness of each facet of a diamond which can only be understood by experts. When a diamond is cut and polished, tiny surface defects may be created at the time of polishing. The grading helps us to find the defects done by polishing on the diamonds.

Evaluating about Cut

There are many standards created for an ideal cut like diamond cut along with the diamond polish and symmetry (which requires detailed explanation). We are not going to explore deeper into them as the standards can get detailed and requires a professional. But the most essential information you should know is how the cut is graded.

The G.I.A. (Gemological Institute of America) follows these 5 for giving grades:

Excellent: The diamond considered as excellent cut as it gives the maximum fire and sparkle and it reflects the maximum light possible.

Very Good: The diamond considered very good (VG) cut as it properly reflects most of the light. This is very similar to the excellent cut but a cost-effective one.

Good: The diamond considered a good cut as it reflects nearly all the light.

Fair: The diamond considers as fair when a little light pass gets out easily without proper reflecting through the bottom and sides of the diamond.

Poor: Poor Cut Diamonds will have no sparkle, brilliance, or fire.

Diamond Cut Buying Advice

Remember, the cut is one of the important aspects of how a diamond will look as it affects brilliance and sparkle, which are the main reasons why you buy a diamond in the first place. Do not go for a poorly cut diamond just because it is very cheap – there is always a reason for the low price. Because grading cut involves a detailed and complex evaluation, which is very difficult to understand but you can do one thing you can ask for excellent graded pieces or certification of diamonds from any of the institutions and which helps you know the grading of the cut, as now you know how the diamonds are graded.