The diamond cut shape

Proportionscope:

	The tool used to measure the proportions of a diamond is a proportionscope.
	It is necessary to consider all the proportions and not only some of them. An angle of crown too large or too small is indicated in remark. An open culet indicates a poor stone (except in the case of the old cuts). In melee, thick rondists indicate not very interesting stones.
	Many professionals consider the cut the most important diamond characteristic because even if a diamond has perfect colour and clarity, a diamond with a poor cut will have dulled brilliance.
	For those how wish more information regarding the proportions of the brilliant cut, they will know that in 1919, Marcel Tolkowsky published « Diamond Design » in which he describes his research on the proportions of the brilliant cut. You can click on this link and search his work: Tolkowsky.

The « ideal » cut:

It is a very vast subject, which divides the professionals still today. To obtain the maximum of brightness, fire, « life », a diamond must be cut according to certain dimensions and proportions. The diamond cutters must carefully consider the optical properties of each diamond to determine its optimal size.

Brilliance of a diamond following the proportions of its cut:


Ideal cut: light is correctly reflected. Diamond has a beautiful brilliance and « fire ».	Too shallow: light is lost out the sides causing the diamond to lose brilliance.	Too deep: light escapes out the bottom causing the diamond to appear dark and dull.

To obtain an ideal cut, the 3 principal elements, are:

1) Total depth %:

The height of the stone is divided by the diameter in rounds or by the width in all other shapes. Say the stone measures 6.52 - 6.56mm x 3.92mm, the total depth is 3.92mm ÷ 6.54mm = 59.93%. Ideal round diamonds should have a depth of 59%-62.5%.

2) Table percentage (%):

Only round diamonds have a standard for table size. In round diamonds for a diamond to be recognized as an ideal cut the table must be relatively small. It must fall between 53% and 57%.

3) Girdle thickness:

The best girdle range for a diamond to fit in the ideal cut category for rounds is anywhere between « Thin » and « Slightly Thick ». The girdle could be Thin, Medium, Slightly thick or any combination of the three, such as « medium to slightly thick ». The various graduations thickness of the rondist are: Extremely thin, Very thin, Thin, Medium, Slightly thick, Thick, Very thick and Extremely thick.

4) Others...:

Other elements are important, such as the culet size. The culet size is listed on a certificate and your diamond’s culet should be pointed (no culet), very small, small or medium because these are not visible to the naked eye. The graduations of the culet size are: No Culet, Pointed, Very Small, Small, Medium, Large, Very large and Extremely large. Avoid the culets equal or lower than « Large » which when you look at diamond by the table are very visible with the naked eye.

The girdle of diamond can be faceted, polished or rough. Diamonds which has a very beautiful cut have often the faceted girdle. A diamond cutter must work from additional time to facet it, which is not always economically profitable. A faceted girdle does not improve quality of diamond. The GIA evaluates only the thickness of the girdle and not its appearance.