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The Anatomy of a Diamond

ANATOMY OF A DIAMOND One of the most defining characteristics of a diamond is its cut. A diamond's cut is an integral factor in determining its brilliance and fire. Even a flawless diamond will appear dull and muted if the cut is poor. While high grades of color, clarity, and carat weight also contribute to a diamond's appeal, it's the cut that determines the symmetry of the stone's facets, its overall proportions, and its ability to reflect light. Diamond Components A diamond is comprised of the following main components: Table This is the largest facet of the stone. Crown It extends from the top of the stone (the 'table') down to the girdle. Girdle 3 The outer edge of the diamond (the widest point of the diamond),where the crown and the pavilion meet. 4 Pavilion It is located at the bottom of the diamond and bridges the girdle and the culet. The pavilion is integral to the stone's light reflecting properties. Culet 5 The smallest facet of a diamond, the culet is located at the very bottom of the stone. Table Crown Girdle Pavilion Culet It comprises the flat Crowns can be surface on the top, resembling a 'table'. cut facets or Its measurement is the A properly cut pavilion perimeter of the It was originally intended to protect the diamond's pavilion. Today's settings are strong enough to render it unnecessary. comprised of step will allow the maximum diamond. A diamond's amount of light to brilliant cut facets. girdle can be rough, polished, or faceted. reflect from the surface of the stone. Cut Definitions Cut refers to the geometric proportions of the gem. When evaluating the cut of a diamond, there are some core characteristics that should be considered: Diameter Measurements Table Thick part The measurements in millimeters of a diamond's of girdle length, width, and height are used to evaluate the Crown Height Crown Angle symmetry and quality of its cut. Pavilion Angle Total Thin part of girdle Proportions Depth Pavilion A diamond's proportions, a measure of the Depth number and size of facets and its overall length SIDE VIEW and width, are integral in determining the quality of its cut. Depth & Depth Percentage* Table Percentage* A diamond's depth is the entire stone's height from the The table percentage is the ratio of the width of table to the culet, in millimeters. The depth percentage the diamond's top facet in relation to the width of measures the ratio of the stone's depth (from the table the entire stone. The right ratio results in a large to the culet) to the diamond's total diameter. amount of fire and brilliance. Ideal proportions: Incongrous proportions: A poorly cut diamond with incongruous When a diamond is cut with the ideal proportions for its shape, it will reflect more proportions will allow light to escape out the light out of the top, resulting in higher levels of bottom and sides, resulting in a dull, dark fire and brilliance. appearance. Facet/Faceting There are two common methods of cutting facets, each with its own unique light reflection properties: Step-cut faceting: In this approach, the facets are elongated and Brilliant-cut faceting: This technique creates triangular-shaped facets placed in rows to simulate a mirrored staircase. that face outwards from the center of the diamond. Crown View Pavillion View Crown View Pavillion View Other variables A diamond's polish and symmetry are critical to the quality of its cut. Polish For maximum brilliance, every facet of a diamond should be professionally polished after the cutting process. A high-quality polish will leave little to no scratches and marks, while a poor polish can result in imperfections on the surface of the diamond. A diamond's ratings for Symmetry polish, symmetry and cut grade A symmetrical diamond will have well-balanced, properly aligned facets, resulting in a high level of fire and brilliance. If the facets are affect its value and they may not symmetrical or not optimally shaped, they'll display less sparkle. vary based on which Gemological Laboratory is Cut grade evaluating it, as each agency A gemologist assigns a cut grade as a means of measuring a uses a different scale. diamond's proportions, craftsmanship, quality of polish, and light reflecting properties. A diamond with a high quality cut grade will exude a large amount of brilliance and fire. Light's Effect on a Diamond A diamond is a prism that refracts or bends light rays. It breaks white light into a spectrum of color and directs it to the observer's eye. The most important factors that determine a diamond's brilliance is its ability to reflect light. Tiny flashes will be visible within the stone exposed to a light source. This is known as sparkle or scintillation: an effect of the stone's reflection and refraction of light. Reflection Refraction Dispersion When light enters the surface When light travels into the As light exits the diamond, of a diamond, a portion of it is center of the diamond and dispersion causes the white light to reflected back out of the top. bounces off its internal walls. be separated into multiple colors. Some light will escape out the bottom and sides, and some will reflect out of the top of the stone. The light that is reflected is referred to as the 'fire' of the diamond. Cut & Value The quality of a diamond's cut has a significant impact on its value. Improperly cut diamonds will have less visual appeal and a decreased value. A well-cut stone sacrifices more of the rough diamond during the cutting process, resulting in a higher market value. It will also exhibit better light reflecting properties, To ensure the best value, look for a certified diamond with polish and symmetry ratings exuding greater fire and brilliance. of 'Good' or better. Cut & Depth Diamonds are generally categorized into three main types of cuts: Shallow cut Ideal cut Deep cut This is the cut of a high quality This type of cut poorly reflects light, resulting in a Although a shallow cut diamond will create the illusion of a larger diamond that beautifully stone, it allows light to escape reflects light. This premier cut dull, muted appearance. out the sides instead of reflecting style is well-proportioned and off the top, creating a lack of brilliance and sparkle. carefully angled to achieve a luminous appearance. Brilliance Diamond Make 'Make' is a term used to describe the overall appearance of a diamond and is based on a combined analysis of its shape, cut, proportions, polish, symmetry, and light reflecting properties. The 'Make' of a diamond directly impacts its brilliance and beauty. A properly designed, cut and finished diamond will have a more desirable appearance, even when compared to diamonds of higher color and clarity grades. We use the following designations to rate the 'Make' of our diamonds: Super Ideal Make Our highest quality cut. Good Make Very Good Make Excellent Make Ideal Make Economical choice. Reflects nearly all Cut to a Superior level Reflects most light light that enters. high-quality polish of craftsmanship. Reflect the maximum that enters it. Less expensive than and symmetry. It emits the most amount of light. Offers beauty at an 'Excellent' Make. This diamond brilliance and light. It exhibits unrivaled an attractive value. It still displays a good Make will reflect Preferred by brilliance and fire. amount of brilliance all light as consumers seeking Extremely rare. and sparkle. brilliance and fire. premium cuts. YouTube www.youtube.com/user/brilliancecom Blogger http://blog.brilliance.com/ twitter @brilliancecorp Pinterest http://pinterest.com/brilliance/ facebook. www.facebook.com/brilliancecom BRilliance - Toll Free: 866-737-0754 Email: [email protected] www.brilliance.com

The Anatomy of a Diamond

shared by lovehomechic on Sep 06
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A diamond's cut determines a huge part of its value and what kind of price it will fetch in the market. A beautifully done cut on a diamond can spell all the difference between a sparkling, brilliant ...

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