The Essential 4C's
Cut : The Diamond's Sparkle
Diamonds are cut to maximize the sparkle, fire, brilliance and overall visual beauty of a diamond. The cut is a measure of light performance as light hits a diamond.
Diamonds sparkle is a result of light performance. As light hits a diamond, it penetrates the diamond, bounces around and reflects within the diamond and ultimately returns light to your eye. That is the sparkle that you see.The cutting of a diamond directly impacts the amount of light performance achieved. The angles, locations, sizes and shapes of facets will determine the diamond sparkle.
- An excellent cut diamond has a maximum amount of scintillation, brilliance, and fire.
- Light enters the diamond and refracts out with very little light lost.
- This exceptional grade represents roughly the top three percent of diamonds.
- Very Good Cut Diamonds offer exceptional brilliance and fire.
- A large majority of the entering light reflects through the diamond’s table.
- To the naked eye, Very Good diamonds provide similar sparkle to those of Excellent grade..
- Good Cut Diamonds showcase brilliance and sparkle, with much of the light reflecting through the table to the viewer’s eye.
- These diamonds provide beauty at a lower price point.
- Fair Cut Diamonds offer little brilliance, as light easily exits through the bottom and sides of the diamond.
- Diamonds of a Fair Cut may be a satisfactory choice for smaller carats and those acting as side stones.
- Poor Cut Diamonds yield nearly no sparkle, brilliance or fire.
- Entering light escapes from the sides and bottom of the diamond.
