A great deal of love, thought and energy will go into the purchase of the ultimate gift...a diamond. When a diamond is purchased, it is usually for a special occasion or for someone who holds an important place in the purchaser's life. The most popular reason for a diamond purchase is as an engagement token, but diamonds are perfect as gifts for weddings, anniversaries and the all important Valentine's Day. Most people buy on 'emotion', the overall look of the piece, whether it is a vintage piece for someone who prefers a more traditional look or a contemporary design. Generally, one could say that in a purchase such as this the 'heart rules the head'. But there is much more to consider when buying your diamond. The Four C's The Four C's apply to every diamond. It refers to Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat Weight. These four considerations will enable you to make an informed choice when it comes to making your purchase. Here we examine the diamond 'cut'. The Cut of a Diamond Gemologists rate 'diamond cut' as the characteristic that is the most important because here is where the beauty and brilliance of the stone will make a particular piece stand above all others. GIA Diamond Report The GIA diamond report for your diamond will include the cut grade from Excellent to Poor. Research to validate these gradings was carried out over a 15 year period with more than 70,000 observations on diamonds. GIA's Diamond Cut Grading System assesses the diamond's levels of Brightness, Fire and Scintillation and the extensive Cut Grading System on a GIA Diamond Report will indicate the essential grading of a cut diamond. The cut of a stone is the determination of it's brilliance, it's light, it's beauty. The diamond cut is not a reference to the diamonds shape, but points to the proportions of the stone, the depth, width and uniformity. In a diamond that has not been cut to reflect high quality, light will leak from the sides and bottom of the diamond, whereas with a perfect cut, the light will sparkle clearly from the top. The beauty of a polished diamond is determined by it's interaction with light. The way a diamond is cut will result in a complex display of Brightness, the light that reflects from the surface and interior, Fire, the dazzle of colour that is emitted from the diamond and Scintillation, the gleam of light that flashes when the diamond moves. Together, they result in a diamond that is the epitome of sheer beauty and the finest diamond's interaction with received light, will determine it's excellence. The diagrams above show the refraction of light is determined by the cut of the diamond. Notice that the Fine Cut and Ideal Cut reflect the most light through the top of the diamond. The Table The size of the table at the top of the diamond determines how much light is released through the top of the diamond. If a table is 60% of the diameter of the stone then 60% of the light released will be brilliance with the remaining 40% fire or dispersion. The Crown The all important Crown should be cut at an angle of 32 †35 degrees. This will be the perfect cut. Under 32 degrees is a spread cut, making the table area too large and the girdle too thin. The Girdle The girdle acts as a prevention against the chipping of the edge of the diamond. The ideal cut is for a diamond to have a medium to slightly thick girdle. Too thin, and the necessary protection is not present. Too thick, the cut will take up valuable carat weight. The Pavilion The light of a diamond is reflected back to you by the facets of the pavilion. Light enters the diamond through the table and facets of the crown. When you look at your diamond, the sparkle comes not just from the top but through the pavilion also. The accepted pavilion angle of a round diamond is between 40 †41.5 degrees, the ideal angle being 40.75 degrees. The perfect pavilion angle of marquise, pear and ovals is 40 degrees, but a range between 39.25 †40.75 is acceptable. The perfect angle for emeralds and rectangular cuts is 45.05 degrees, but any cut that lays between 43.3 and 46.8 is acceptable. If angles are cut incorrectly or not within the accepted range, a dramatic loss of sparkle and light will occur, reducing the beauty and brilliance of what could have been the perfect diamond. The Six Diamond Cuts Signature Ideal Cut ~ (www.MyDiamonds.com.au) This is our most brilliant cut and represents approximately the top 1% of diamonds cut for quality and would be the most expensive diamond that is available for purchase. We would recommend this cut of diamond as it is renowned for it's reflective qualities. It is cut at the correct depth enabling light to shine through the top of the stone, allowing the sheer brilliance of the diamond to be clearly on view. Ideal Cut ~ An exquisite and rare cut that is often used for smaller table sizes of diamond. A cut that applies only to round diamonds, it is representative of one of the finest cuts of diamond in the spectrum. Representing approximately the top 3% of diamond quality based on cut, the Ideal Cut reflects most of the light that enters the diamond. Very Good Cut ~ Reflects virtually as much light as the Ideal cut at a lower price. Represents approximately 15% of diamond quality based on cut. Good Cut ~ A much less expensive cut than a Very Good Cut. Represents the top 25% of diamond quality based on cut. Reflects most light that enters. Fair Cut ~ A quality diamond but not as brilliant. Represents the top 35% of diamond quality based on cut. Poor Cut ~A grade of diamonds we do not offer. They do not meet the performance standards we require for our clients. My Diamonds (www.MyDiamodns.com.au) carry GIA, AGS and HRD graded diamonds as their Diamond Cut Grading Systems are recognised by the professional world of diamonds and jewellery the world over. The sparkle of a diamond will catch your eye and will reflect the grade of the diamond cut. When choosing your favourite diamond, examine the Diamond Grading Report that accompanies it. Professional diamond merchants such as My Diamonds (www.MyDiamonds.com.au) will always relish the opportunity to impart knowledge to you about your diamond, so you should never be uncertain to ask questions. My Diamonds want their clients to delight in and appreciate only the finest diamonds.
Please Rate this Article 5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5
Not yet Rated
