Basic Diamond 4 C's – Diamond Cut

People generally tend to confuse the shape of a diamond to its cut. These however, are two separate attributes and should not be mixed up, even though they are loosely related terms.

The 'cut' of a diamond refers to the dimensions and proportions in which the diamond is cut and not its shape.

The 'cut' is probably the most important attribute that one should look at in a diamond.
The reason for this is that the cut determines how much 'sparkle' the diamond will have, ultimately determining how attractive it will look.

Some of the important factors to look for in a diamond cut are:

Symmetry: The symmetry with which a diamond is cut will determine how light reacts when passing through it. The better the symmetry and proportion with which a diamond is cut, the more sparkle it will exhibit.
Depth and Width: These are very important factors when it comes to the cut of the diamond. Too much depth could result in the diamond exhibiting dark regions when we look at it through its table.
Here is a table that shows the percentage of depth and table that a diamond should ideally have
Diamond Cut
Table (%)
Depth (%)
Princess Cut
60-71
64-75
Emerald Cut
60-64
60-65
Oval cut
54-61
59-63
Pear Shaped Cut
54-61
59-63
Marquise Cut
54-61
59-63
Round Brilliant Cut
53-60
58-63

There are various types of diamond cuts available. But they are broadly classified into three types: brilliant cuts, step cuts and mixed cuts.

Diamond cuts can also be classified as shallow, deep and ideal

Shallow Cuts: They do not reflect a lot of light and hence look kind of lifeless

Deep Cuts: These cuts make the diamond look larger than the actual shape, but they also make the diamond appear dark and dull.

Ideal Cuts: They reflect the light entering in an ideal fashion and hence give the necessary shine and luster to the diamond.

The following are some of the popular cut styles for diamonds

  • Round Brilliant Cut Diamonds
  • Princess Cut Diamonds
  • Emerald Cut Diamonds
  • Marquise Cut Diamonds
  • Pear Shaped Cut Diamonds
  • Oval Cut Diamonds
  • Heart Shaped Cut Diamonds
  • Asscher Cut Diamonds
  • Cushion Cut Diamonds

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