The reflective dimensions of a diamond - its sparkle.

The cut of diamond stands for its overall reflective dimensions. There are various types of diamond cuts - shallow cuts, ideal cuts and deep cuts. Each diamond cut causes a different reflective surface that ultimately creates different routes for the light to pass through.

Diamonds can also be “shaped” to your liking as well. The "cut" of a diamond is often confused with the "shape" of a diamond. However, these are very different things. The shape of a diamond refers to its visual form, whilst the cut of a diamond affects its visual brilliance.

Of the four “C’s”, the cut of the diamond is the most important characteristic. How a diamond is cut will demonstrate how the light is reflected within it. “Scintillation” is a term that is used that illustrates the shimmering effect the diamond generates when it is moved under a beam of light. The term “fire” is used to describe the density of the different colours that are seen when the light illuminates through the stone. Light is naturally broken up into fragments of colours when it is passed through a prism. An "ideal cut" diamond has perfect proportions, where the light will pass through and reflect back through the top of the diamond, maximising its overall brilliance. When a diamond is cut too shallow, light leaks through the bottom of the diamond and when a diamond is cut too deep, light escapes through the side.

Diamond cuts come in certain “proportions” and there is a grading system that measures their quality. The grading system was invented by Marcel Tolkowsky in 1919. He came up with the grading system by measuring the brilliance of light that slices through the diamond and how it is related with its “proportions”. There are some gemologists that go by other terminologies that help evaluate the quality of a diamond. Such terms that are used are AGS 000, Premium Cut, Excellent Ideal Cut and Tolkowsky Ideal Cut. The proportions of a diamond is based on following the guidelines that accompany the “fire” and “scintillation” of the stone. Factors involved with these guidelines are:

• Table Size
• Pavilion Angle
• Pavilion Depth
• Crown Angle
• Crown Depth
• Girdle

 

Diamond Cut Grades

Diamond cuts are graded based on their reflective qualities. Daniella offers excellent and very good cut diamonds. These are the top two grades which have the most light reflecting, maximising the brilliance or sparkle of a diamond.

1. Excellent cut
2. Very Good cut
3. Good cut
4. Fair cut
5. Poor cut