The cut grade is considered an essential factor of a diamond’s beauty and brilliance.
DIAMOND CUT
The cut grade is considered an essential factor of a diamond’s beauty and brilliance.
Why Is A Diamond’s Cut Important?
Diamond cut is one of the most vital aspects when selecting a diamond. A diamond’s cut decides how much light the stone reflects. The diamond may have great colour, clarity and carat, but if it reflects only a little light, it will be dull and lifeless, while a diamond with an excellent cut will emanate fire, sparkle and allurement. A diamond’s cut refers to the symmetry of its facets, the measurements of its angles and much more. A diamond’s shape refers to its external form, which can be round, oval, cushion or heart-shaped, among others.
Fair
Adequate quality cut that reflects some light while maximizing weight. While not as brilliants as a good cut, still a quality diamonds.
Good
Premium quality cut to optimize the size without sacrificing quality or beauty. Reflects most light that enters.
Very Good
Superior quality cut that reflects nearly as much light as the ideal cut while at a substantially lower cost.
Ideal
Exquisite quality cut to create the optimal combination of brilliance and fire. Reflects nearly all light that enters the diamonds. Top 3% of diamond quality based on cut.
Super Ideal
Super ideal cut diamonds have cuts with an extremely high degree of precision and angles that give them superior performance. The cut quality of a super ideal cut diamond goes above and beyond that of “Excellent” and “Ideal”.
What Diamond Characteristics Impact Cut?
Many factors are involved in cut quality, including its proportions, facets, finishing details and ability to reflect light. The better these characteristics are, the higher the grade of the diamond and the price.
Table
Diamond table is determined by dividing the width of the table by the width of the diamond.
Crown
Crown angle is the measured angle between the bezel facet plane and the table plane.
Girdle
Girdle thickness percentage is the average thickness of a diamond’s girdle, measured at the eight bezel/main “hill” positions, and expressed as a percentage of average girdle diameter.
Pavilion
Pavilion angle is the measured angle between the pavilion main facet plane and the table plane.
Culet
Culet size is described as the width of the culet facet, when present, relative to a round diamond’s average girdle diameter.
Depth
Depth refers to the height of the diamond, from the cutlet to the top of the table. Depth is measured in millimetres and percentage.
How Are Diamond Cut Graded?
Diamond cut grade evaluates the diamond that appears when viewed face-up based on the attributes of brightness, fire and scintillation. The quality of the craftsmanship or craftsmanship that went into aligning and polishing the diamond’s facets and how well the diamond was designed to ensure durability and optimal weight.
A diamond with an excellent cut grade is very bright. It shows a consistent pattern with good contrast between light and dark areas, so the reflections appear crisp and well-balanced. This cut tells that the cutter made the best possible use of the rough. The Good cut grade diamond isn’t quite as bright – reflections aren’t as sharp, and there’s more darkness or dullness in the diamond.
The Poor cut grade diamond has much more prominent dark areas or dullness. An excellent cut grade guarantees a beautiful diamond if all else is equal. Diamonds in the Very Good and even Good cut grades are also beautiful; they only suffer by comparison with the very best stones.
Diamond Cut Chart
| Super Ideal | Cut to the most exacting standards. These diamonds have the most desirable dimensions and proportioned to return the maximum possible light. |
|---|---|
| Ideal | Exquisite quality cut to create the optimal combination of brilliance and fire. Reflects nearly all light that enters the diamonds. Top 3% of diamond quality based on cut. |
| Very Good | Superior quality cut that reflects nearly as much light as the ideal cut while at a substantially lower cost. |
| Good | Premium quality cut to optimize the size without sacrificing quality or beauty. Reflects most light that enters. |
| Fair | Adequate quality cut that reflects some light while maximizing weight. While not as brilliants as a good cut, still a quality diamonds. |
| Poor | Poor Cut Diamonds produce nearly no glimmer, shine or fire. Entering light flights from the sides and bottom of the diamond. |
