Diamond Cut And Its Categories

In its original, rough form, diamond is highly unremarkable. It appears to be like an ordinary stone that is recovered from secondary deposits. It is dull in appearance, with external surfaces that seem to be battered with its opaque covering. With this appearance, the so-called "diamond cut" was considered.

Diamond cut is in the first place very important to the beauty of the gemstone. It is through it that the hidden beauty of diamond is brought in a dramatic fashion. It is actually the act of polishing and creating flat facets in the face of the diamond to create an appearance that will catch every eye. Well, diamond cutting is highly considered knowing that even a diamond with an outstanding clarity and color will not display the sparkle that diamonds are known for if it is not well-cut or if its components don't interact with light the way they should. It is for this reason that diamond cut has been deemed as the most important in the diamond 4 Cs (carats, clarity, color and cut).

There are three basics groups of diamond cuts: brilliant cuts, step cuts, and mixed cuts. According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), these categories are considered based on the style and arrangement of the facets of the diamond. However, before we deal much into these categories, it is important to note first that although the term "diamond cut" is often confused with "shape", there is more to it than how the stone is shaped. The truth is, diamond cut refers to the cutting style, the stone shape, its proportions and the workmanship.

So, the brilliant cuts basically boast a number of facets that are often molded like triangles and kites. The facets have the capability to radiate outwards and they are shaped that way so that the light that comes from them will interplay, then enhancing the brilliance of the gemstone. Perhaps the most familiar version of this cut is the round brilliant cut which is shaped with a total of 58 facets. Yeah, that much! There is another version of this category though which is often considered as square in appearance - the princess cut diamond.

The step cuts, on the other hand, are basically noted for their sloping and four-sided facets. Typically, these diamond cuts are cut below the diamond's table or the flat top of a cut stone, and run parallel to the diamond's girdle. And, unlike the first diamond cut category, the step cuts only have fewer facets.

There is a popular version of a step cut diamond - emerald cuts. This version is noted its corners that is clipped off. The emerald cuts typically appear to be rectangular, although their proportions can differ significantly. There are some emerald cuts actually with proportions that vary from narrow rectangles to square shapes.

Finally, the diamond cut that comes mixed include facets that can be found both in the brilliant and step cut. These facets can be found either side by side or in different areas of the diamond. Well, if you are wondering what cuts are popular for colored gemstone, the mixed cuts hold the answer.