What is Diamond Cut?

Cut refers to the angles and proportions the diamond cutter creates in transforming a rough diamond into a polished, faceted stone. The cut of a diamond – its roundness, its depth and width, the uniformity of the facets – all determine a diamond’s sparkle or brilliance. Many gemologists consider cut the most important diamond characteristic because even if the diamond has perfect color and clarity, poor diamond cuts can make a diamond look dull.

The width and depth have the greatest effect on how light travels within the diamond, and how it exits in the form of brilliance:

Too Shallow: Light is lost out the sides, causing the diamond to lose brilliance.

Too Deep: Light escapes out the bottom, causing the diamond to appear dark and dull.

The diamond’s proportions, specifically the depth compared to the diameter, and the diameter of the table compared to the diameter of the diamond determine how well light will reflect and refract within the diamond.

Polish and symmetry are two important aspects of the cutting process. The polish grade describes the smoothness of the diamond’s facets, and the symmetry grade refers to the alignment of the facets. With poor polish, the surface of a facet can be dulled, and may create blurred or dulled sparkle. With poor symmetry, light can be misdirected as it enters and exits the diamond. For the most beautiful diamond, look for a symmetry grade of ideal (ID), excellent (EX), very good (VG), or good (G) for an AGSL graded diamond, and excellent (EX), very good (VG), or good (G) for a GIA graded diamond. Avoid diamonds with symmetry grades of fair (F) or poor (P), as the alignment of their facets may misdirect light so severely that it affects the brilliance of the diamond.

Speak with a Designer

Olschwanger Designs focuses on the best symmetry grade cut for your diamond in order to exceed expectations. Call Olschwanger Designs to set up a consultation at 972-458-8352.