The Importance of a Diamond’s Cut
NYC Wholesale Diamonds believes that the quality of a diamond’s cut is one of, if not the most, important factors when selecting a diamond. It seems as if the general public is also reflecting the same opinion. Rapaport is reporting large price differentials between excellent and average cut fancy shape diamonds. Shortages of finely cut, large fancy shapes, specifically Pears and Ovals, with large Radiant cut diamonds seeing the biggest increase in demand.
‘Ideal Cut’ is a term used by diamond professionals to mean a diamond cut to proportions that were originally established in the 1919 doctoral dissertation of diamond cutter Marcel Tolkowsky. We often think of a diamond’s cut as shape (round, cushion, princess, emerald…), but a diamond’s cut grade is really about how well a diamond’s facets interact with light.
Cut measures workmanship, rather than a diamond’s inherent qualities. The way a stone is cut enhances sparkle, brilliance, and luminosity. The GIA’s best cut rating is excellent. This is an extremely desirable and rare distinction only awarded to diamonds that perfectly reflect light. The vast majority of diamonds are actually less than good cuts by GIA standards. This is far from ideal, and there will be a lack of brilliance no matter how large, white, or clean your diamond. It’s appearance in the absence of intense, direct light actually will be dull and lifeless.
Cut determines the sparkle, fire and brilliance of a diamond.
Knowledge on what determines if a diamond is an Ideal Cut, is the key to diamond buying success. The one thing you should not trade off on is the quality of the cut. Even a nice color stone, if not well-cut, will be dull and lifeless. For example, a middle color such as J or K, that has an excellent cut, will pop and shine with all the sparkle that makes diamonds so desirable!
Here, at NYC Wholesale Diamonds, we will spend time educating you on the cut of every diamond we present. GIA grades diamond cut as Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor. Where it gets complicated, is that GIA only grades cut on round diamonds. All other shapes take more explanation as Polish, Symmetry, Depth and Table percentages come into play, as useful guidelines.