August 2017

Different Cuts of Diamonds

There are two aspects to cut in a diamond. The first one is simple: what shape do you want? Round? Oval? Princess? The next bit is a little more complicated.

The complex aspect to cuts is that for each given shape, it’s well understood how they are supposed to be cut. There is a mathematical process that diamond cutters use when cutting the stones: they know the angles they are supposed to cut, where the facets are supposed to meet, and the proportions each facet should have. With today’s technology, we can measure these facets very precisely. So why do we care about cut? A diamond doesn’t have performance value like a car. A diamond’s only job is to sparkle and is designed to refract as much light as possible. And it’s the cut that makes it do that. So why not cut the stones the same way every single time since we have tools and processes to do this?

As we've said, diamonds are products of nature and not impervious to imperfections.

When a diamond cutter cuts a stone, he may have to compromise on the cut of the stone. When you cut a stone, you’re removing materials, therefore decreasing the carat weight and ultimately the value of the stone. So the cutter has to balance the quality of the cut against the carat weight. Cut is extremely important because a diamond’s only job is to sparkle, and the sparkle is in the cut. So if you’re considering buying a poorly cut diamond just because it’s cheaper, just buy a piece of glass for $15 and save yourself the trouble. But something tells me your bride-to-be probably won’t appreciate that as much. Please remember - it’s the cut that unlocks the beauty of the stone. Take a so-so rough diamond and cut it perfectly, and it will look beautiful. Take a top-of-the-line rough diamond and cut it poorly, and it will look like garbage.

The "cut" aspects of a round diamond. Remember a diamond is a prism, meant to refract light at optimum angles - it's what makes it sparkle and shine!

Types of Diamond Shapes

On other websites you might visit, you could be overwhelmed at the information presented at the offset: the multiple charts, graphs, drawings, and industry terms can leave you more confused than when you started. There are a few main things you need to be aware of when looking at stones and we discuss the most relevant points for each cut of stone below.