Understanding Diamond Cuts - Decoding the 4Cs Part 1

You might have heard diamond buyers, jewelry websites, blogs, or jewelers talking about the carat weight, clarity, color, and cut of a diamond quite often. For the uninitiated, these terms can be quite alien and confusing. Whether you are out to browse our exquisite halo diamond engagement rings, view our timeless diamond engagement rings, or explore any other type of diamond jewelry, it is important that you understand the essential characteristics that play an integral role in defining the shape, colour, brilliance, and sparkle of the stone.

So, let us take a couple of moments to understand what the 4Cs of a diamond are through a series of blog posts, starting with this one right here! We will discuss what a diamond cut is, why it is so important for you to understand if you are contemplating buying diamond jewelry, and how you can evaluate the quality of any diamond based on its cut.

What exactly is a diamond “cut” and why is it so important?

Of the four defining characteristics of a diamond, the cut is perhaps the most essential one because it establishes how a certain diamond interacts with natural or artificial light. The cut, in very simple terms, refers to the way your jewelry maker has shaped and polished your diamond’s many facets. As you might already know, a rough diamond goes under several technical processes before it takes its final form and shape in your jewelry, whether it is an engagement ring, a diamond wedding band, a pair of earrings, or pendant. What differentiates a good diamond from a substandard one is the way it reflects light within the stone, from one facet to another, before the light exits the diamond from the top.

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Any diamond’s visual appearance, whether stunning or disappointing, can be attributed to the way it has been cut and shaped. Diamonds with great cut quality always tend to sparkle brighter than those with poor cuts, even if the latter have a higher grading.

What determines the diamond cut quality?

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) determines the cut quality of a diamond based on three primary parameters:

• Symmetry
• Proportion
• Polish

This grading is done on the scale of “poor” to “excellent” – you can ask your jeweler for your preferred diamond’s grading or evaluation done by such a lab to understand how the stone fares in technical terms.

What are some of the most sought after diamond cuts?

The most popular diamond cuts or shapes include:

• Princess cut
• Round brilliant cut
• Oval cut
• Pear cut
• Heart cut
• Emerald cut

Now, choosing a diamond cut basically depends on what your budget cap is, what your personal tastes and aesthetic preferences are, and the type of jewelry you are opting for. For instance, a round brilliant cut diamond would be the perfect choice for your solitaire wedding ring, but it might not be the best option for drop earrings.

How to evaluate the diamond cut

While your trusted jeweler can be the best guide for you in terms of helping you understand the quality of your diamond jewelry, there are a few simple ways to assess the diamond cut yourself.

• Ethical sourcing and lab certification: First things first, always insist on buying a certified and ethically sourced diamond. A certified diamond will always come with details about the cut grade issued by a lab like the GIA. Refer to this certificate to assess the quality of the diamond’s cut.
• Symmetry and proportion: Symmetry is another key factor that you can look at while evaluating a diamond’s quality. Well-cut diamonds tend to exhibit perfect symmetry and proportion between its facets.
• Consistent dazzle and fire: A well-cut diamond will always exhibit a consistent sparkle under various lighting conditions, so this is another way to examine the quality of a diamond cut.

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We put hours and hours of effort into crafting every single A.JAFFE ring, with one single piece taking over 80 hours of dedication and craftsmanship. With a lifetime warranty on all our products, we make sure that every customer gets a buying and after sales experience that is exceptional and unmatched. Whether you want to make a small modification to one of our existing A.JAFFE engagement rings, or create a completely customized piece from scratch, our expert team can make your vision a reality while maintaining the legacy of our superior craftsmanship. For a deeper understanding, continue reading in Part 2 of our series.

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