Everything you want to know about the cut of a diamond – the 4 Cs (Part 1 of 4)

Many people have heard of the 4 C’s of diamonds, but most don’t really understand what they mean and how they impact a purchase decision. Diamonds are graded and certified to global standards across four criteria, known as the ‘Four Cs’ – cut, carat, colour and clarity. Today we will be reviewing cut and what it all means when talking about diamonds.

Cut

Diamond cut is perhaps the most important of the four Cs, so it is important to understand how this quality affects the properties and values of a diamond. A diamond cut is a style or design guide used when shaping a diamond for polishing such as the brilliant cut.

The cut of a diamond greatly impacts the diamonds brilliance. A high-quality cut diamond will maximise the amount of light reflected back through the top of the diamond resulting in a stone with sparkle. The angles and finishes of any diamond are what determine its ability to handle light, which leads to brilliance.

In order to best utilise a diamond material properties, a number of different diamond cuts have been developed. A diamond cut constitutes a more or less symmetrical arrangement of facets which together modify the shape and appearance of a diamond. Diamond cutters must consider several factors, such as the shape and size of the crystal, when choosing a cut. The most popular of diamond cuts is the round brilliant, whose facet arrangements and proportions have been perfected by both mathematical and empirical analysis. Also popular are the fancy cuts which come in a variety of shapes—many of which were derived from the round brilliant.

An important note to consider when selecting the diamond is not to confuse diamond “cut” with “shape.” Cut refers to the symmetry, proportioning and polish of a diamond, whereas shape refers to the general outward appearance of the diamond, for example, round, square or emerald.