| Of the 4 C's used to evaluate a diamond -
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| | is brilliance. Poorly done, the light
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| cut, clarity, color, carat-weight -
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| | leaks through the bottom and/or the sides
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| perhaps the least understood by the
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| | of the diamond.
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| general public is cut. After all, even
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| | Symmetry
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| someone looking for the first time at a
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| | Symmetry refers to how well the facets
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| diamond can often see flaws (which affect
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| | (flat surfaces) are aligned. With
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| clarity), the color, and the relative
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| | perfect symmetry, a diamond looks
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| size of a stone. But, how do you go
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| | 'whole.' It pleases the eye from any
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| about evaluating a diamond's cut?
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| | viewing angle. Beyond these overall
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| It's actually not a difficult concept to
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| | aesthetic qualities, symmetry plays a big
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| grasp, once you learn that cut determines
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| | role in brilliance. Misalignment or
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| a gem's brilliance (how effectively it
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| | disproportional cuts will wreak havoc on
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| reflects light back toward the viewer's
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| | how light travels through the diamond.
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| eyes). This is the true artistry of a
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| | Just as with poor depth, poor symmetry
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| diamond cutter's work. The biggest
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| | will cause a diamond to appear dull.
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| flawless diamond with the most amazing
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| | Polish
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| color can be ruined by a poor cut that
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| | Polish refers to the smoothness of the
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| dulls its appearance to the naked eye.
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| | surface of every facet that is cut into a
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| There are, as you probably already know,
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| | raw diamond. This part of the diamond
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| many popular diamond cuts. They include:
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| | cutting process requires the utmost care
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| round, oval, marquise, pear, heart,
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| | and attention to minute detail. With
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| emerald, princess, and radiant. While
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| | modern technology, polish does not vary
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| some cuts (round and radiant) are
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| | nearly as much now as it did in years
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| specifically intended to enhance
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| | past. Excellent polish greatly enhances
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| brilliance, a properly cut diamond of any
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| | a diamond's brilliance because it creates
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| shape should appear sparkly - not dull -
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| | less diffusion as light enters and exits
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| in bright light.
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| | the diamond. Even a diamond with slight
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| There is a lot going on when a diamond
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| | depth or symmetry problems will appear
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| cutter does his work, but for a basic
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| | brilliant if the polish is of the highest
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| understanding, let's concentrate on the
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| | grade.
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| three primary aspects: depth, symmetry,
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| | To be sure, a lot more is involved than
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| and polish. Remember that the main goal
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| | what's covered here. However, for the
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| when shaping a diamond is to maximize
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| | average diamond shopper, all you need to
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| brilliance in the final version.
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| | know is whether the diamond shines with
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| Depth
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| | brilliance or appears dull. Specific cut
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| Depth refers to how tall a diamond is
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| | grading details are issued on most
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| from top (called the 'table') to bottom
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| | diamonds you'll find being sold in stores
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| (called the 'culet'). The depth
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| | or from brokers, if you want the in-depth
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| partially determines how the expert
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| | evaluation for investment purposes. But,
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| cutter will angle the many facets (flat
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| | for most of us, how the diamond looks in
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| surfaces) as he shapes the stone.
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| | terms of brilliance is the way we
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| Ideally, those facet angles will divert
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| | evaluate it when deciding to shell out
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| incoming light in such a way that it gets
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| | our hard-earned money. Now you know why
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| routed down, across, and back up through
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| | that diamond sparkles (or doesn't) - it's
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| the diamond. Properly done, the result
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| | all in the cut!
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