Diamond Cut

Not only does a diamond’s cut have a big effect on the overall appearance of the stone, but it can greatly affect the price of a diamond ring. However, compromising on cut to save money may result in a less attractive diamond.

A diamond cutter, therefore, has an important job in balancing diamond carat with a high-quality cut. The cut grade informs customers whether a diamond has a good cut based on its weight, size, and other factors that affect the diamond’s cost.

What is diamond cut?

Diamond cut is frequently spoken about, but what does it actually mean? Contrary to popular thought, the cut doesn’t indicate the diamond’s shape, but rather its proportions and the way the diamond reacts to light to create a sparkling effect.

Cut is one of the 4 Cs that influences a diamond’s quality along with colour, clarity, and carat. Out of the 4 Cs, cut has the biggest impact on a diamond’s perceived beauty. An excellent cut diamond will sparkle all over, whereas a poor cut diamond will look dull in comparison and leak light from beneath.

Did you know?

A diamond’s cut doesn’t refer to the shape of the stone. While the shape refers to the general form and outline of the diamond, a diamond’s cut focuses on the proportions of facets and how the diamond appears from a face-up viewpoint. All of these cut factors impact the way in which the diamond reflects light, giving it its overwhelming sparkle.

The Characteristics

GIA (Gemological Institute of America) has determined 5 cut grades to determine the quality of a diamond cut. These grades range from Excellent to Poor and look at many different characteristics which define the value of a cut:

1. Excellent

2. Very Good

3. Good

4. Fair

5. Poor

Excellent

Reflects nearly all light that enters the diamond.

Very Good

Reflects nearly as much light as the ideal cut

Good / Fair / Poor

Reflects far less light and appears dark (not offered by AURONIA)

An "Excellent" cut diamond will have perfect symmetry and catch the light well.

A diamond cut measures several things including the appearance of the diamond and how it interacts with light. Cut also factors in the weight and design of the diamond, and how it has been shaped and polished. For example, an Excellent cut diamond will have perfect symmetry and catch the light well.

Diamond cut grades consider three factors when assessing the way a diamond reflects light. These include:

Brilliance (Brightness)
This refers to the white light that a diamond exudes, which can often create a reflective-mirror like effect on walls and other objects. Light enters the diamond through the top of the stone, and is then reflected back out as white light. The better a diamond cut, the more brilliance the diamond will have.

Fire
Fire indicates a diamond’s ability to disperse a spectrum of coloured light. When light catches the inside of the diamond, it reflects off of the diamond’s facets and appears in the form of colours to the naked eye.

Scintillation
A diamond’s scintillation is its perceived sparkle. If it seems to twinkle in reaction to the light, and exude sparkling off of the surface of the stone when moved, then it most likely has an excellent cut.

Diamond Certificates at AURONIA

Each AURONIA ring made with a 0.3 carat diamond or bigger comes with a GIA-grade diamond to assure quality. All GIA certified diamonds that we use at AURONIA are Triple X cut, meaning the stone is excellent regarding its cut, polish, and symmetry.

GIA Certification

GIA (the Gemological Institute of America) is the leading global body regarding the grading and evaluating of gemstones. The GIA clarity scale enables all diamonds to be graded under an internationally standardised system to help customers purchase the best quality stone.

GIA examines diamonds before giving them a certificate that details all of the critical characteristics of the stone, including the clarity grade and whether there are any other noticeable surface blemishes.

As well as the above, certified GIA gemstone certificates include other information about the diamond, such as the shape, cut, carat, and colour. Certificates can also provide information about the fluorescence, polish, and symmetry of the diamond. Each certificate also contains a detailed diagram of the diamond’s proportions.

With a GIA-certified diamond, customers can rest assured that they are buying a piece of jewellery with a quality gemstone. The level of detail and research that goes into examining each diamond is first-class and carried out to the highest standards.

Diamond Certificates at AURONIA

Elements of a diamond

Since a diamond’s cut is largely based on how aesthetically pleasing it is, it is important to look at the diamond’s elements and how these affect its ability to reflect light.

All

Table

Diameter

Crown

Girdle

Depth

Culet

Pavillion

Table
The table is the outer part of the diamond which is visible when the diamond is facing upwards. Since it is usually the largest facet on a diamond, it greatly affects the diamond’s brilliance and fire.

Diameter
The diameter is the diamond’s width from the edges of the girdle.

Crown
The crown is the top part of the diamond, containing the table. The crown plays a pivotal role in absorbing and distributing light.

Girdle / Girdle Thickness
The girdle is the thin lip around the centre of the diamond, separating the crown and the pavilion. If the girdle is too thick, then it can disguise extra weight, making the diamond more expensive for no good aesthetic reason. A slim girdle is best, but can be very delicate; moreover, it is extremely prone to chipping if not adequately protected by the stone setting.

Depth
The depth is the vertical length of the diamonds. If the depth is too high or too shallow, then light won’t be reflected properly.

Culet
The culet is the tip at the bottom of the diamond. It impacts how light is reflected, and how the bottom of the diamond looks when viewed through the table.

Pavillion
The pavilion is the lower half of the diamond from the girdle to the culet. Although the pavilion is not as visible as the rest of the stone, the facets in this area play an integral role in how light bounces from the diamond.

Table
The table is the outer part of the diamond which is visible when the diamond is facing upwards. Since it is usually the largest facet on a diamond, it greatly affects the diamond’s brilliance and fire.

Diameter
The diameter is the diamond’s width from the edges of the girdle.

Crown
The crown is the top part of the diamond, containing the table. The crown plays a pivotal role in absorbing and distributing light.

Girdle / Girdle Thickness
The girdle is the thin lip around the centre of the diamond, separating the crown and the pavilion. If the girdle is too thick, then it can disguise extra weight, making the diamond more expensive for no good aesthetic reason. A slim girdle is best, but can be very delicate; moreover, it is extremely prone to chipping if not adequately protected by the stone setting.

Depth
The depth is the vertical length of the diamonds. If the depth is too high or too shallow, then light won’t be reflected properly.

Culet
The culet is the tip at the bottom of the diamond. It impacts how light is reflected, and how the bottom of the diamond looks when viewed through the table.

Pavillion
The pavilion is the lower half of the diamond from the girdle to the culet. Although the pavilion is not as visible as the rest of the stone, the facets in this area play an integral role in how light bounces from the diamond.

AURONIA's Recommendation

Cut is the one area that is best to splurge on, if you can; it makes the biggest difference on the quality of the diamond, it should be the top priority. Fortunately, you can find a great diamond to suit any budget and Very Good cuts can look just as good as Excellent cuts while saving customers money.

Shallow

Excellent

Deep

Does diamond cut matter?

Diamond cut does matter when it comes to choosing a wedding or engagement ring, and it is the most important factor to take into consideration.

The first thing to consider is the depth of the diamond. If it is too shallow or deep, then there will be less fire. Always look for an Excellent or Very Good cut to ensure that the depth of the diamond is adequate enough in reflecting the light.

Shallow

Excellent

Deep

Moreover, Excellent or Very Good diamond cuts should ensure that the diamond has good scintillation in any type of lighting. If you want a diamond that sparkles all the time, then the cut should be at the top of your list of things to look out for.

The diamond’s fire, or ability to reflect coloured light, is predominantly influenced by cut. However, clarity, the shape, and size of the diamond can also influence this factor, so it is important to also consider these elements when choosing a ring.

Cut doesn’t just affect fire; certain cuts can accentuate flaws on the stone. Therefore, you may want to purchase a ring with both clarity and cut in mind, making sure that you don’t compromise one for the other and end up with a less desirable gem.

Although many believe that the bigger the diamond the better, when the diamond is larger you need to take into account the 4 Cs, especially the cut. A larger diamond can often highlight more flaws or have a heavier weight which affects light reflections. Contrastingly, a smaller stone with an Excellent or Very Good cut might look better than a large stone with a Poor cut. Therefore, make sure to choose a diamond with a good balance in all areas of the 4 Cs for the best value for money.

AURONIA's Recommendation

Cut at AURONIA

At AURONIA, all diamonds we use are carefully chosen to ensure that customers have the highest quality and most beautiful-looking diamond rings. To meet our high standards of quality, we only offer Very Good and Excellent diamond cuts.

AURONIA's Guarantee

Each AURONIA round brilliant cut diamond which is larger or equal than 0.3 carat, is GIA certified with an Excellent or Very Good cut. We also offer a variety of different shapes such as Brilliant (Round), Princess, Cushion, Oval, Emerald, and Pear and only select the best diamonds based on their proportions, appearance, and ability to reflect light.