What is so important about diamond cut?
In our previous post about diamond dimensions we discussed the importance of the 4Cs in diamond grading – cut, clarity, colour, and carat. Of these four factors, diamond cut is arguably the most important.
That is because it’s the cut of a diamond that will ultimately determine how much it sparkles. It wouldn’t matter if you have perfect colour and clarity… without a precise cut, your diamond will appear dull and boring.
The cut is what decides how well the gem will interact with light.
Ideally we want to achieve an intense sparkle, and in order for this to happen a great amount of precision skill is required. Everything has to be perfect to ensure a breathtaking finish – the proportions, the symmetry, and even the polish.
Therefore, it’s safe to say that the cutting of a diamond can be considered a most intricate art. So along with being the most important of the 4Cs, it’s also the most technically complex to achieve.
Diamond grading:
Excellent: This cut grade has an even amount of dark and bright areas which reflect most of the
light that enters. It’s a rare cut and makes up about the top 3% of diamond cut quality.
Very good: Making up the top 15% of cut quality, influencing factors in this grade include
scintillation, brightness, and polish. It reflects almost as much light as an excellent cut.
Good: Reflecting most light that enters the diamond, this cut has a shallow pavilion angle which
limits scintillation. It makes up the top 25% of cut grades.
Fair: This cut is characterized by a shallow crown and pavilion, which gives the diamond a dull
appearance. It doesn’t reflect much light, and represents the top 35% of diamond cut quality.
Ickinger Signature Cut: Exceeding the amount of reflected light in a standard excellent cut, our
signature cut represents the top 1% with the highest grades in symmetry and polish.
Here are 3 desirable visual effects we look for to tell how successfully a diamond interacts with light:
- Brightness – White light (internal and external) reflected from the diamond
- Fire – How the white light scatters into all colours of the rainbow
- Scintillation – Amount of sparkle produced by the diamond, as well as the pattern of dark and light areas caused by reflections inside the stone.
As critical as the cut of a diamond is to its eventual value and beauty, it has to be considered as part of a more intricate puzzle. This puzzle includes the remaining 3 Cs, along with the individual craftsmanship and design of a specific piece.
All of this together impacts the final grade a diamond achieves. At Ickinger we have skills and knowledge that run generations deep, allowing us to provide the utmost assurance that our clients receive only the best in quality fine jewelry.
''Using our understanding of the nature of diamonds and how best to unleash the light, combined with our expertise, we achieve perfection every time''
Our first class collections speak for themselves, and you can browse them all online right here.
