"C" IS FOR CUT - The Sparkle Factor

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“C” IS FOR CUT – The Sparkle Factor – Diamond 4 C ’s

2 February 2009 No Comment

It is the cut that most influences the brilliance of the diamond. Loose cut diamonds

It refers to cutting style, shape, proportions, and workmanship of the cutting process. The brilliance or sparkle of a diamond is determined by the number and depth of the facets, and the geometric relation between them.

These, in turn, depend on the skills of the gem cutter. According to a number of jewelers, cut can account for up to 40 per cent of the cost of a diamond.

Cutting style is important because a diamond’s brilliance is magnified when it is cut with geometric precision. A gem cutter sculpts the diamond’s 58 facets, symmetrically arranging them to capture the light as best as possible, the more exact their geometric relation to each other, the greater the scintillation and therefore the value

Although it is often said that stones cut in Europe or Australia are better than those cut in Asia, the value really depends on the skill and precision of the individual cutter..

The proportions of your diamond are also essential for providing brilliance and fire. Light enters the diamond, bounces around inside and reflects back out through the top, creating sparkle. Diamonds that are cut too shallow or too deep injure the light refraction process and appear duller. Cut should not be confused with The Diamond Shape, which is the silhouette when looking down at the diamond from the top.

The classic diamond is, to most people, a round gem of sparkling white brilliance with a kaleidoscope of dazzling facets to entice the eye. A cutter’s skill will produce a diamond of the greatest size with the fewest flaws and the most brilliance.