There is a lot of confusion with the term “CUT” in the 4C’s of diamond quality.

• Cut
• Color
• Clarity
• Carat

Many people think that the cut is just the shape of the diamond (round brilliant, princess, emerald, oval etc.) but it is MUCH more than that!  Shape is only the beginning… cut means to a diamonds quality.

The cut of a diamond has the greatest effect on its beauty.

The cut of a diamond has the greatest effect on its beauty.

The cut of a diamond has the greatest effect on its beauty.

A diamond can be flawless and colorless but it will not be beautiful if it does not dance with light.

A diamond is a tiny set of mirrors (facets at angles) that reflect and refract light.  When light enters a diamond; the diamond material slows and bends the light waves.  When light waves slow and bend, the white light is dispersed into its spectral (rainbow) colors.  Every angle and every facet that is cut on the diamond- affect the amount and quality of light (white light or colored light) that is  returned to your eye or is lost out the bottom or sides of the diamond (called light leakage).  The “ideal” in superior craftsmanship in the diamond cutting process is that all cutting factors are at the highest levels of precision and perfection to make the maximum contribution to the diamonds beauty.  That beauty makes the diamond more valuable….

For grading purposes, the word “cut” means the proportions and finish or make of a polished diamond.

• Proportions are the angles and relative measurements of a polished diamond’s facets and the relationships between them.
 
• Finish is the quality of the polish and the precision (symmetry) of the junctions of the facets.

The proportions and finish of a skillfully cut diamond maximize its interaction with light.

For more information check out our links to IJO and GIA

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