R. Kantilal & Company - Cutters & Polishers, Importers and Exporters of Diamonds - 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 good cut gives a diamond its brilliance, which is that brightness that seems to come from the very heart of a diamond. The angles and finish of any diamond are what determine its ability to handle light, which leads to brilliance.

As you can see in the image below, when a diamond is well-cut, light enters through the table and travels to the pavilion where it reflects from one side to the other before reflecting back out of the diamond through the table and to the observer's eye. This light is the brilliance we mentioned, and it's this flashing, fiery effect that makes diamonds so mesmerizing.

Most gemologists agree that the best cut diamonds are those that follow a set of formulae calculated to maximize brilliance. These formulae can be seen in a diamond's proportions, most importantly how the depth compares to the diameter, and how the diameter of the table compares to the diameter of the diamond.

One of the leading diamond grading bodies, the AGS, has developed a table which they believe offers the the "ideal" proportions of diamond. The image below details the various parts of the diamond, together with the recommended proportions of the AGS.

Because cut is so important, several grading methods have been developed to help consumers determine the cut of a particular diamond. In general, these grades are Ideal, Excellent, Very Good, Good and Fair.

Diameter:The width of the diamond as measured through the girdle.
Table : This is the large, flat top facet of a diamond.
Crown : The upper portion of a cut gemstone, above the girdle.
Girdle :The narrow rim of a diamond that separates the crown from the pavilion. It is the largest diameter to any part of the stone
Pavilion : The lower portion of the diamond, below the girdle. It is sometimes referred to as the base.
Culet :The tiny facet on the pointed bottom of the pavilion, which is the portion of a cut gem below the girdle.
Depth :The height of a gemstone, from the culet to the table.

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