The cut of a diamond is one of the most important factors in determining its beauty and brilliance. A well-cut diamond can compensate for other imperfections and therefore improve the overall beauty and brilliance of the diamond.
1.1 History of diamond cuts
1.2 How are diamonds cut?
2.1 About diamond cut grades
2.2 Differences in brilliance due to cut grade evaluation
2.3 What is Heart and Cupid?
3. Summary
1.1 History of diamond cuts
Diamond cuts have a long history and have evolved over time.
In the early days, diamonds were used in shapes close to their natural crystal form. They were simply cut stones that shone brightly, but as diamonds gradually became more and more fascinated by people, processing techniques evolved to make them shine even more beautifully.
Then, in the early 20th century, the "brilliant cut" appeared. This cut has 58 polyhedral faces, which reflects the most light and maximizes the brilliance of the diamond . This cut is the familiar round brilliant cut, which is widely used in diamond jewelry.
With the spread of the brilliant cut, it became clear that the cut has a significant impact on the brilliance and beauty of the diamond, and standards for measuring quality were established. Today, there are many different styles of diamond cuts, further expanding the appeal of diamonds.
1.2 How are diamonds cut?
Diamonds are known as the hardest mineral in the world. But do you know how such hard diamonds are cut?
In fact, diamonds can only be cut by other diamonds, which have the same hardness. However, even diamonds, which are so hard, have relatively weak bonding surfaces due to the nature of the crystal, and this property is called "cleavage." This property is utilized to cut and sever the stone. Specifically, a polishing machine with diamond powder attached to it is used. Diamonds are cut by skilled technicians using advanced technology to bring out their brilliance and beauty to the fullest.
2.1 About diamond cut grades
The cut grade has a significant impact on the appearance and beauty of a diamond . The higher the grade, the more beautiful and sparkling the diamond will be, so it is considered a very important factor in determining the price.
2.2 Differences in brilliance due to cut grade evaluation
Diamond cut is rated
- "Proportion" to evaluate the accuracy of the cut
- "Polish" evaluates the degree of polishing of the surface
-
Symmetry: Evaluating the symmetry of the cut
It is judged based on three factors:
As you can see from the photo, the quality of the cut can have a big impact on the brilliance of the same diamond. Cut grades are classified into the following five levels.
- Excellent
Furthermore , if the diamond is rated "Excellent" in all three aspects of proportion, polish, and symmetry, it is called "Triple Excellent (3EX)." This indicates that the diamond has the highest value in terms of cut.
- Very Good
This is a relatively high rating with brilliance and reflectivity superior to good, making it an option for small diamonds.
- Good
Good cut. Not as brilliant as Very Good or Excellent, but sometimes chosen as a cost-effective option.
- Fair
Generally, it doesn't have a good shine or light reflection. I don't recommend it.
- Poor
The lowest rating. There is a significant lack of light reflection or brilliance. This cut grade should generally be avoided. This condition has low aesthetic value.
2.3 What is Heart and Cupid?
Another symbol that is uniquely revered in Japan is the "Heart and Cupid."
The name comes from the silhouette of a heart and Cupid's arrow that can be seen when looking at a round brilliant cut diamond through a special scope, as shown in the image below.
The heart and cupid can be seen if the diamond is symmetrical, but this does not necessarily mean that the diamond is of high grade.
As an indicator of cut, it is necessary to check whether it is an "excellent" cut .
Because Hard and Cupid are not very familiar or valued overseas , they are not specified by international appraisal agencies such as GIA .
In Japan, heart and cupid diamonds are said to "capture the heart," and are particularly popular as engagement rings, so they are independently evaluated by the Central Gemological Institute and others.
3. Summary
The cut of a diamond is an important factor in determining its beauty and brilliance, and a good cut brings out the true value of the diamond. If you want something as beautiful as possible, we recommend choosing one with a high cut grade.
Also, if you want a larger, brighter diamond, you can get both "brightness" and "size" by choosing a lab-grown diamond . Lab-grown diamonds are evaluated with the same cut grade as diamonds. We recommend them as one of the options for the new era.
