| Finding the perfect diamond for yourself or for | | | | Today through the use of laser and computer |
| someone you love can be an important task. | | | | aided cutting devices the standard round brilliant |
| There are so many different colors and sized | | | | cut diamond has 58 facets and some have well |
| diamonds available that it is a good idea to learn a | | | | over 100 facets. |
| little bit about them before you begin the shopping | | | | Choosing the proper cut for a diamond is |
| process. The 4 C's of diamonds are clarity, color, | | | | incredibly important, because it is the cut that |
| cut, and carat. These are the factors that a | | | | greatly affects a diamonds brilliance, sparkle, and |
| certified diamontologist will take into account when | | | | fire. There are two other factors of cut polish |
| they grade or evaluate a diamonds value. Cut is a | | | | and symmetry. Symmetry refers to the |
| very important and often misunderstood | | | | geometrical alignment of the facets which helps |
| classification. | | | | direct light through the diamond. Polish refers to |
| Many people confuse a diamonds cut with a | | | | the overall smoothness of the diamonds facets. |
| diamonds shape. This is a very common and easy | | | | Grading a diamonds cut can be incredibly hard |
| mistake, and in all fairness they are in some ways | | | | unless you are a certified diamontologist or you |
| related since the type of cut used is often | | | | really know your diamonds. This is in part because |
| necessitated by the diamonds shape and size. A | | | | of the intricate differences and subtleties involved, |
| diamonds cut refers to a, for the most part, | | | | but also because there are many conflicting |
| symmetrical arrangement of facets that changes | | | | grading scales. The diamonds proportions, |
| the diamonds appearance. A facet refers to a flat | | | | however, are what affects the diamonds grade. |
| surface on a geometrical design. The cut is | | | | The two biggest factors that affect the diamonds |
| actually the only part of the grading process that | | | | cut are the depth percentage and the table |
| is controlled by man. | | | | percentage of the diamond. Depth percentage is |
| Diamond cutting first was implemented during the | | | | the measurement of height vs. width ration of |
| middle ages where diamond cutters, using | | | | the diamond and the table percentage is the |
| primitive tools, began sanding the sides of the | | | | measurement of the diameter of the top of the |
| diamonds to create a smooth unblemished | | | | stone and its relationship with the diamonds overall |
| surface. The cuts of the early 12th and 13th | | | | width. The GIA, Gemological Institute of America, |
| century were very primitive, usually consisting of | | | | grading scale involves rating a diamonds cut as: |
| only 8 or 12 facets. The point cut and later the | | | | Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor. |
| table cut were two fairly popular cuts that were | | | | There are many different types of cuts like rose |
| fairly easy to make. It was not until the middle of | | | | cuts, mixed cuts, and round brilliant cuts. While a |
| the 17th century that the first brilliant cuts were | | | | more intricate cut generally indicates a more |
| introduced. The Mazzarin cut is one cut made | | | | expensive product, it still has a lot to do with |
| popular in the 17th century with 17 facets. Later | | | | personal preferences. It is a good idea to take a |
| in the 17th century a Venitian Diamond Cutter | | | | look at the cuts available and pick one that you |
| named Vincent Peruzzi, modified the Mazzarin cut | | | | find aesthetically pleasing. |
| to contain 33 facets and called it the Peruzzi Cut. | | | | |