Diamond Cuts

The Importance of the Diamond’s 4 Cs

When shopping for a diamond, be it for a necklace, pendant, earrings, bracelet, or engagement ring, it is always important to note that there is more to it than the diamond’s setting and its size. Although many people are familiar with the 4 Cs when shopping for a diamond, a majority of them do not properly understand exactly what the 4 Cs entail. They are the diamond’s cut, clarity, color and carat.

Diamond Cut

The most common misperception that people have when it comes to the diamond cut is that it is the same thing as the diamond’s shape. To clear things up, the diamond shape refers simply to the physical appearance of the diamond whereas the diamond cut refers to the diamond’s reflective qualities. In other words, when one hears phrases such as marquise cut, emerald cut, pear cut, princess cut, oval cut and so on, these sentiments refer merely to the diamond’s shape and not the diamond’s cut. The diamond’s cut is a little more complicating and in-depth than its outward appearance as it has a lot to do with angles and its ability to reflect light.

The diamond cut is oftentimes determined by the diamond cutter based on the original shape of the rough gem. Factors such as the diamond’s internal flaws, carat weight and so on play roles in determining the final cut of the diamond.

Quality of the Diamond Cut

Whether one is shopping for wholesale diamonds, loose diamonds or pre set diamonds, the quality of the diamond’s cut is very important. A diamond’s reflective qualities are what make it shine. It is important for one to know that a quality cut is what gives a diamond it’s brilliance, almost as though there is a light shining from within the very diamond itself. Without its signature shine and brilliance, a diamond will not hold as much power as it should. Thus, it is important that when shopping for a diamond, the diamond’s cut must be prioritized.

What is a Good Diamond Cut?

When a diamond has a quality cut, it allows light to enter and travel through it where it bounces off and reflects from one side to the other before returning to the viewer’s eye, very much like a boomerang. This traveling light is what gives the diamond its brilliance and shine. The more brilliant the diamond looks, the better its cut.

What is a Bad Diamond Cut?

If a diamond is poorly cut, light that enters it will not fully bounce and reflect back. Instead, it will seep out from the sides or from the bottom of the diamond, making the diamond look like it has less brilliance and shine. A poor cut can results in a dull diamond even if it scores well on the other 3 Cs, namely the carat, color and clarity. The magical sparkle of the diamond can be lost due to a poor cut and hence it is important to note that when diamond shopping, the cut means a lot, if not everything.

Defining a Diamond

So what makes a diamond? A diamond cut is made up of various proportions and it is helpful for one to know these aspects when buying a diamond and learning about the diamond’s cut. Be it buying an engagement ring, wholesale diamonds or loose diamonds, all diamonds have an anatomy that should be taken into account by every diamond aficionado when diamond shopping. Knowing the lingo is always a bonus and here are the following things to take note of when discussing a diamond’s cut.

Depth

This simply refers to the height of the diamond from the top (table) to the very end point (culet). The diamond’s overall width and depth are very important when determining the quality of the diamond’s cut.

Table

This is the flat surface of the diamond. It usually encompasses the largest and flattest surface of the diamond and is the one that the eye is drawn to first.

Crown

When it comes to the diamond’s cut, the crown starts from the diamond’s table down to the widest point of the diamond, known as the girdle.

Girdle

In terms of diameter, the girdle is the widest point of the diamond. It separates the diamonds’ crown from its pavilion.

Pavilion

The pavilion is located at the base of the diamond and is very important when it comes to the gem’s light reflective abilities. The pavilion is the part of the gem that allows the most amount of light to be reflected from the table of the stone. When a diamond’s cut is of a high quality, the gem’s pavilion allows plenty of light to be reflected, giving it a fiery brilliance and shine. 

Culet

This is the smallest and narrowest point of the diamond and is located at the bottom most portion of the gem.

Types of Cut

Choosing the grade of a diamond cut really depends on one’s preference and budget. Although there are various grades of diamond cuts on the market, in general there are three types of cuts that one should look out for when shopping for a diamond. Be it a pre-set engagement ring, wholesale diamonds or loose diamonds, it is still important to note the difference between the cuts to ensure that one gets the best possible one.

Ideal Cut

As its name suggests, the ideal cut is what one should look out for when shopping for a diamond. Not only does the ideal cut beautifully reflect light, it is well proportioned and lends a hand in properly enabling the diamond to reflect light, giving it an unparalleled magical brilliance. This is the finest cut that one can possible get when shopping for a diamond.

Shallow Cut

One of the pros to buying a diamond with a shallow cut is that it gives one the illusion of a much larger stone. This is because light seeps out of the diamond from the sides and bottom instead of fully reflecting back. Although the stone may look larger, it will lack the intense brilliance that an ideal cut can offer. In general, those who choose diamonds with a shallow cut are those who wish to stay within their budget without sacrificing too much quality and brilliance.

Deep Cut

Although the other 3 Cs may be well graded, if a diamond has a deep cut, it will result in a dull appearance. Because it is unable to properly reflect light, the diamond does not give off the brilliant sparkle common to diamonds with a quality cut. In general, only a small quantity of the light that enters it is reflected back. It is not uncommon for a diamond cutter to perform a deep cut simply to maintain the diamond’s carat weight.

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