Cut

There are various elements that make up the cut of a diamond. Whether it’s regarding the diamond’s actual shape, how symmetrically balanced it is, or how refined its polish is. The greater the quality of the cut is, the prettier the diamond’s appearance is. If the diamond cutter does a proper job, the diamond should be able to reflect light in nearly all of its facets. In fact, cutters should have intricate knowledge of the properties of light itself and how it relates to the surface of diamonds in order to show off the beauty of the diamond in the best possible way. 

The Three Categories of Reflection: 

Brilliance- how much white light can be seen reflected off the diamond  

Dispersion (fire)- how many colors can be seen reflected off the diamond 

Scintillation- how reflective is the light from the diamond when in motion 

The Levels of Diamond Cut:  

How precisely the diamond is cut is perhaps the most crucial part of determining its quality. There are generally 5 levels to consider when examining a diamond’s cut: 

Super Ideal- Best quality. Cut to the best of standards. Has the most beautiful pattern, perfect to near-perfect dimensions, and reflects the most light possible any way you turn it.  

Ideal- Excellent quality. Shows great brilliance and dispersion, and above-average scintillation. 

Very Good- Great quality. A slight step down from Ideal in terms of reflectiveness, and can be obtained at sometimes substantially lower costs.  

Good- Decent quality. Reflects most light that enters, and has optimal size without damaging overall quality too much. 

Fair- Passable quality. Has okay reflectiveness and is decently sized, but does not offer the same level of brilliance of the levels above it.