Diamond Cut Guide

CUT

Cut is considered the most important characteristic of a diamond. A good cut gives a diamond its brilliance, which is the brightness that seems to come from the very center of a diamond. A poor cut will leave even a diamond with perfect color and clarity looking dull. The angles and finish of any diamond are what determine its ability to handle light and determine its brilliance.

When a diamond is well cut, light enters through the table and travels to the pavilion where the light bounces from one side to the other before reflecting back out through the table. How the light moves within a diamond is dependent on its cut, and the result of a good cut is the brilliant, flashing, and fiery effect that makes a diamond so attractive.

The width and depth determine how light travels within the diamond, and how it exits in the form of brilliance. If a cut is too shallow, the light seeps out the sides causing the diamond to lose brilliance. If it is too deep, the light escapes out the bottom causing the diamond to appear dark and dull.