The Diamond Spot Boston’s Key Insight on the Cut of a Diamond
The daunting task of selecting a diamond needs to start somewhere, and the first step you need to take is picking out the diamond cut desired by the recipient. The Diamond Spot is going to help you. This factor is the most crucial aspect of the 4C’s (Cut, Carat, Color, and Clarity) when buying a diamond. This selection will determine the amount of sparkle and fire that a diamond will display.
Diamond cut refers to how well a diamond’s facets interact with light. A well-cut diamond will display superior brightness, fire, and scintillation compared to a poorly cut stone.
The three main attributes that affect the diamond’s overall cut quality are:
• Symmetry – The precision of a refined diamond’s shape and facet placements.
• Proportions – The angles and relative measurements of a polished diamond.
• Polish – The overall state of the facet’s surfaces contained in a diamond.
One big confusion that many people make is that diamond cut and diamond shape are the same things. You need to know that these two terms are not the same and it doesn’t help that many jewelry retailers use the terms interchangeably. Diamond cut can easily be confused with the shape of a diamond. If you would like to know the best for her hand shape check out The Diamond Spot’s blog on “Diamond Shapes for Her Hand.”
Based on any set of factors, each retailer will have its terms to describe cut such as Excellent, Very Good, Fair, and Poor. Sadly, when comparing cuts from different retailers, they are most likely inconsistent. This factor will make it difficult comparing grades of cut between various retailers. Be aware of diamond retailers who assign their cut grades in place of what GIA has already assigned to a particular diamond.
The cut grade is the most crucial factor in determining the overall appearance of a diamond. You will notice a poorly cut diamond will seem dull despite its excellent clarity and color. With its superior capability to create sparkle and brilliance, a well cut-diamond can still look beautiful despite its slightly lower color or clarity.
If you are looking for grander brilliance, select a round diamond with a Cut grade of Very Good or Excellent, and with fancy-shaped diamonds a Good or Better grade. Make sure the impact of the above-average is Cut is not obscured, pay attention to the symmetry and polish. They need to be Very Good or Excellent when choosing a diamond in this range.
Even if the diamond size is the primary concern, avoid Poor cut diamonds. Despite the lower price, be aware that most find these diamonds to be an unacceptable trade-off. The Diamond Spot does not have a Poor cut diamond in its inventory.
If you are looking for a diamond that looks bigger, provides the face-up color improvement, and helps mask inclusions, the diamond cut alone will make sure all three of them. Just by having a better diamond cut, this will give you a boost in the other aspects (color, carat, and clarity) of your diamond.
Visit or schedule an appointment at the Diamond Spot and let one of our Diamond Specialists will walk you through the differences in a Diamond Cut. Seeing the difference in person is vital in determining the precise diamond that is perfect for you.