If you have been researching diamonds, you have probably heard of the 4Cs of diamond buying: color, clarity, carat, and cut. Some people mistakenly think that cut refers to the shape of the stone, but it actually refers to the symmetry, proportions and polish. The way a stone is cut will greatly impact the fire and brilliance that it produces as light hits each of the facets.
How is a Diamond Cut?
If you have ever seen a rough diamond (one that has not been cut and polished yet) you know they often look like a cloudy piece of glass – something you’d probably just toss to the side if you ran across it and didn’t know what it was. It takes a lot of work to get a diamond looking its sparkling best. There are four steps to the diamond cutting process.
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Cleaving – The diamond is first cleaved along its tetrahedral plane. This is the middle of the diamond, and where it is generally the weakest. This splits the diamond into two pieces.
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Sawing – This is done with a special blade or a laser. Diamonds that do not have a weak point will need to be sawed instead of cleaved. During this step the cutter will determine the table and the girdle.
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Bruiting/Cutting – The term Bruiting refers to cutting done by hand and Cutting is the term used when this step is performed by a machine. During this step the shape of the diamond is determined and facets are cut into the stone.
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Polishing – This last step is the finishing touch that gives the diamond its famous sparkle and shine. A polishing wheel is coated with an abrasive substance that polishes it to perfection.
Why is Cut So Important?
The way a diamond is cut greatly impacts the way light is reflected on the facets and through the stone. According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) website:
GIA calculates the proportions of those facets that influence the diamond's face-up appearance. These proportions allow GIA to evaluate how successfully a diamond interacts with light to create desirable visual effects such as:
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Brightness: Internal and external white light reflected from a diamond
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Fire: The scattering of white light into all the colors of the rainbow
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Scintillation: The amount of sparkle a diamond produces, and the pattern of light and dark areas caused by reflections within the diamond
GIA's diamond cut grade also takes into account the design and craftsmanship of the diamond, including its weight relative to its diameter, its girdle thickness (which affects its durability), the symmetry of its facet arrangement, and the quality of polish on those facets.
So, it all comes down to sparkle. A well-cut diamond is going to produce an exceptional amount of brilliance. Of course, color and clarity are essential as well. However, an excellent cut diamond can hide some imperfections – just as a colorless diamond with great clarity can look less than stellar if it is poorly cut.
Diamond cut is considered the most important “C” of the 4Cs of diamond buying because it has the largest impact on a diamonds overall sparkle. When you’re setting your budget, look closely at a diamond’s budget to determine your desired radiance for your diamond.
Keep in mind that some of the other Cs, including clarity and color, are subtle differences that may only be seen under magnification. Because it enhances a diamond’s sparkle, cut can make your diamond more visually appealing. Regardless of a diamond’s other qualities, it may appear dull if the cut is poor.
The goal of diamond cutting is for light to enter the table, bounce from a pavilion and exit back through the diamond’s table. This provides the most sparkle to your eye. When a diamond cut is too shallow, light will exit through the bottom. If the cut is too deep, light will exit through the side.
All Diamonds Fall Into One of Five Cut Grade:
Super Ideal Cut
Although GIA doesn’t grade anything above an Excellent cut, Bahdos has created an ideal formula in order to further narrow down the most perfect cut diamonds available. These diamonds are cut optimally to allow the most light to enter and exit the diamond.
Excellent
Excellent cut is a rare cut that represents the top 3% of diamond cut quality. Excellent cut diamonds reflect most of the light that enters the diamond. For the best possible cut with the highest level of sparkle, brilliance and fire, consider an excellent diamond.
Very Good Cut
Very Good cut diamonds represent the top 15% of diamond cut quality. These reflect almost as much light as excellent cut but they come at a lower price.
Good Cut
Good cut diamonds represent the top 25% of all diamond cut qualities. They still reflect most of the light that enters a diamond, but slightly less than Very Good cut diamonds.
Fair Cut
Fair cut diamonds allow a bit more than half of the light to escape through its sides or bottom. This cut is perfect for diamonds under .75 carats where the difference isn’t obvious. These diamonds represent the top 35% of diamond cut quality
Poor Cut
Poor cut diamonds allow most of the light to escape through its sides or bottom. As such, poor cut diamonds do not have the same sparkle that you might expect from a diamond. These diamonds represent the top 35% of diamond cut quality
Each diamond you’ll find on Bahdos.com has been graded by the Gemological Institute of America to guarantee its cut, brilliance and quality. If you’re looking for the best of the best, choose Super Ideal or Excellent cuts. If you’re looking for a great combination of beauty and value, consider a cut grade of Very Good or Good. If you have other questions about cut or any of the diamonds we carry, please feel free to contact one of our knowledgeable customer service representatives. They will be happy to assist you.