Round Brilliant Diamonds And Evaluating Diamond Cut

Round diamonds are the most popular choice forTable... 53% to 61%    [Ideal 53% to 57%]
Engagement Rings.  Round Diamonds mostGirdle Thickness... thin, medium or slightly thick
efficiently manipulate light and therefore have theSymmetry... excellent or very good
ability to provide the most shine and brilliance. APolish... excellent or very good
diamond's brilliance is determined by the way lightCulet Size... none, very small or small
behaves when it enters the top of the diamond. VERY GOOD CUTS FOR ROUND BRILLIANT
An excellent cut diamond will reflect all of the lightCUT DIAMONDS
that enters a diamond and provide the most shineDepth... 58% to 64%
and brilliance possible.Table... 52% to 63%
If a diamond is too shallow, a portion of the lightGirdle Thickness... very thin, thin, medium, slightly
will leave through the bottom of the stone and ifthick or thick
the diamond is too deep, the light will be refractedSymmetry... excellent, very good or good
out the side of the stone.  This is why it isPolish... excellent, very good or good
important to chose a diamond with a properCulet Size... none, very small, small or medium
depth percentage to ensure brilliance.GOOD CUTS FOR ROUND BRILLIANT CUT
Round diamonds are classified as excellent, ideal,DIAMONDS
very good, fair, and poor.Depth... 57.7% to 64.2%
An excellent cut is the highest grade a diamondTable... 55% to 66%
can receive from the Gemology Institute ofGirdle Thickness... extremely thin, very thin, thin,
American or GIA.  Excellent Cut Diamonds havemedium, slightly thick, thick or very thick
optimal proportions and give the most brillianceSymmetry... excellent, very good, good or fair
and light return.Polish... excellent, very good, good or fair
An ideal cut diamond meets the most stringentCulet Size... none, very small, small, medium,
requirements from the GIA.  The diamondslightly large or large
reflects all the light and returns the most brillianceFAIR CUTS FOR ROUND BRILLIANT CUT
possible.DIAMONDS
A very good cut diamond has depth and tableDepth... 55.5% to 71%
percentages that fall just outside the "ideal"Table... 54% to 67%
requirements set by the GIA. This diamondGirdle Thickness... extremely thin, very thin, thin,
returns almost all the light and is similar to an idealmedium, slightly thick, thick, very thick or
cut diamond.  A very good cut diamond will sellextremely thick
for less than an ideal cut diamond yet possessSymmetry... excellent, very good, good, fair or
very similar characteristicspoor
A good cut diamond reflects most of the lightPolish... excellent, very good, good, fair or poor
that enters it.  A good cut diamond gives youCulet Size... none, very small, small, medium,
good brilliance and will sell at a much lower priceslightly large, large or very large
than an ideal or very good cut diamond.  "Good"POOR CUTS FOR ROUND BRILLIANT CUT
cuts are popular choices for engagement rings.DIAMONDS
A fair cut diamond reflects a decent amount ofDepth... 50.8% to 79%    [can exceed these
light and will sell for much less than an ideal orlimits]
very good cut diamond.  A fair cut is a popularTable... 53% to 70%    [can exceed these
choice for people who want a decent costlimits]
savings to purchase a larger stone.Girdle Thickness... extremely thin,very thin,thin,
Suggested Guide for evaluating Diamond Cutmedium, slightly thick, thick, very thick or
EXCELLENT CUTS FOR ROUND BRILLIANT CUTextremely thick
DIAMONDS [ranges taken from a sampling ofSymmetry... excellent, very good, good, fair or
over 10,000 diamonds]poor
Depth... 59.1% to 62.7%    [Ideal 60% toPolish...
62.9%]