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 The cut of a diamond refers to its proportions. Of the 4C's, the cut is the aspect most directly influenced by man. The other three are dictated by nature. Quite often the cut of a diamond is confused with its shape. Diamonds are cut into various shapes depending upon the original form of the uncut diamond, which is referred to as "rough." Whatever the shape, a well-cut diamond is better able to reflect light. A diamond's ability to reflect light determines its display of fire and brilliance. Diamonds are usually cut with 58 facets, or separate flat surfaces. These facets follow a mathematical formula and are placed at precise angles in relation to each other. This relationship is designed to maximize the amount of light reflected through the diamond and to increase its beauty.  |
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 Well Cut When a diamond is cut to proper proportions, light is reflected from one facet to another and then dispersed through the top of the stone. Within the Well Cut standards are the Diamonds.com sub categories of Ideal, Excellent, and Very Good. |
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 Deep Cut When the cut of a diamond is too deep, some light escapes through the opposite side of the pavilion. |
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 Shallow Cut When the cut of a diamond is too shallow, light escapes through the pavilion before it can be reflected. The cut, or proportions, of a diamond is measured in percentages relative to the diameter of its girdle. The girdle diameter of each diamond is always considered 100%. |
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Ideal This range is very strict and combines the best in brilliance and fire. Technically, the head of the class. |
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Excellent This range is also of great beauty yet slightly more flexible regarding percentages. Many experts prefer the appearance of this range to Ideal. |
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Very Good This range is balanced between precise proportions and price considerations. Viewed by many as the best overall value in beauty and price. |
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How do I know if a Diamond is well cut? A well cut diamond is the secret to a beautiful and brilliant diamond. Like beauty itself, the true meaning of "well cut" is often found in the eye of the beholder. While you may prefer a particular set of proportions, someone else might prefer slightly different proportions. Personal preference, even among experts, will always be an issue in defining the best cut. Diamonds.com has established three sub-categories within well cut proportions to assist you in selecting the diamond that is right for you. These categories established by our experts are based upon decades of research and the standard practices of gemological laboratories and diamond experts from around the world. Listed in the charts below are the Depth and Table percentages for each shape. The sample graphs shown here for rounds display the relationship between Ideal, Excellent, and Very Good. These graphs would look similar for all shapes so we have displayed only the actual percentages for the others. Think of Ideal, Excellent and Very Good as rings in a bull's eye. These classifications for cut represent an acceptable range for that category. The ranges narrow as you move toward Ideal at the centre. Ideal has the narrowest range, with Excellent slightly larger and Very Good the largest. All three of these categories fall within the "well cut" classification. In many cases the visual differences from one classification to the next are so small they may be indiscernible to the naked eye. Science has produced sophisticated machinery that can measure every aspect of a diamond's proportions. It is this precision that allows such strict standards to be defined. These guidelines give you the ability to not only make a selection regarding cut but to understand the underlying science upon which it is based. In any case a brilliant and scintillating diamond is ultimately the goal.  The Lowest score becomes the overall cut grade. In order to classify each diamond with an overall cut grade the lowest assigned grade for any individual characteristic is always used. For example: If the table percentage falls within Ideal yet the depth percentage is in the Very Good range, the diamond is classified as Very Good. The proportions are not the same for every shape. Many of the diamond shapes require their own guidelines in order to achieve maximum beauty. Due to the mathematical differences inherent in different shapes, the table and depth guidelines are formulated to maximize fire and brilliance. Although the numbers may be different, the goal is the same: a magnificent display that highlights the individuality and character of each shape. |
To learn more about the 4 C's, simply click on the links below; » Cut » Colour » Clarity » Carat |
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