Diamond Education- Cut
The cut of a diamond is one of the most important determining factors when choosing the perfect stone, and affects brilliance, light dispersion and overall sparkle. Cutting a rough diamond requires meticulous precision; and having knowledge of how it works can help you make the right choices when purchasing your jewellery!
The term 'cut' can be incredibly confusing when it comes to diamonds. We have used it here in the most common way; to describe how a diamond has been made form its rough form. However, it can be used by some to describe the shape a diamond has been fashioned into (such as Pear, Asscher or Round), or the cutting process applied by the diamond polisher (such as Brilliant and Step cuts).
The cut of a diamond is graded by a certification body such as the GIA, who use a five-point scale ranging from 'Excellent' to 'Poor'. The diamond's anatomy and the way which it reflects light determine this grading; 'Excellent' diamonds are those that have the greatest sparkle intensity, fire and brilliance. Stones graded as 'poor' are therefore those with less light reflection.
The anatomy of a diamond is an incredibly important factor in the cut. This is because the two key sections, the Crown and the Pavilion, have the biggest impact on a diamond's sparkle.
The diagrams below show the anatomy of a Round Brilliant Cut diamond...
Diameter: The width of the diamond at the widest point of the girdle
Table: The largest facet at the top
Crown: The top part of the diamond, between the girdle and table
Girdle: The narrow band at the diamond's widest point
Pavilion: The bottom part of the diamond, between the girdle and cutlet
Cutlet: The facet at the bottom tip
Depth: The height of a diamond from table to cutlet
There is much more to learn about the cut of a diamond! Check out our Education pages to learn more...
Anatomy of a Diamond and the Effects of Light
Cut Grading Classification Across Diamond Shapes
