DIAMOND CUT

Diamond Cut

The cut of a diamond refers to how well the stone has been shaped and proportioned by the diamond cutter—not its shape (such as round or oval), but rather how effectively the diamond’s facets interact with light. Cut is the most important factor influencing a diamond’s brilliance, fire, and sparkle.

A well-cut diamond reflects light from one facet to another and directs it back through the top of the stone, creating maximum brightness. A poorly cut diamond, on the other hand, allows light to escape through the bottom or sides, resulting in a dull or lifeless appearance—even if the stone has high color and clarity.

Cut Grades

  • Excellent – Exceptional brilliance and fire; light is reflected in the most ideal way.

  • Very Good – Very high-quality cut with only minor light leakage. Still offers impressive sparkle.

  • Good – Reflects most light well but may show slightly less fire and brilliance.

  • Fair – Noticeable light leakage; diamond appears less lively.

  • Poor – Significant light leakage; limited brilliance and sparkle.

Cut grading is currently standardized only for round brilliant diamonds, For fancy shapes (like oval, cushion, emerald, or pear), cut quality is not graded on a universal scale, so proportions, symmetry, and visual performance must be evaluated more carefully.

Why Cut Matters

Of all the 4Cs (cut, color, clarity, carat), cut has the greatest impact on a diamond’s beauty. Even a diamond with excellent color and clarity can look dull if the cut is too deep, too shallow, or poorly proportioned. A well-cut diamond will appear brighter, often even making it look larger than a heavier but poorly cut stone.