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Loose Diamond Educational Videos

Guide to Diamond Cut

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Hi, I'm Brian with B2C Jewels. In this video, I'm going to talk about cut, one of the elements of the famous 4Cs.

Of those C’s, Cut is considered the most important, because the way a diamond is cut determines how much it will sparkle. And, isn't that the most important thing about a diamond?

There's often some confusion between cut and shape. Cut is not the shape of the diamond. Diamonds shapes like round or emerald are often called “round brilliant cut” or “emerald cut” but that's just a turn of phrase.

So, what exactly is cut? Cut refers to the way the facets or polished flat surfaces have been placed on the diamond. When light enters the diamond, the proportions and angles of those facets determine how much brightness and dispersion come back to your eye. So, better cut equals better sparkle. Period. Don't let anyone convince you that cut is not important.

Now that you understand what cut is. Let's talk about cut grades. Independent gemological laboratories such as the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) and the AGSL (American Gem Society Laboratory) grade diamonds in clinical terms, without any bias. You should choose diamonds graded by these authorities to know exactly what you're getting. Sticking to diamonds graded by the GIA or AGSL will also permit you to make uniform comparisons of options from different retailers.

The GIA issues 5 cut grades with Excellent being the highest, followed by Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. The AGSL grades on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being the highest. The AGS 0 grade is also known as “AGS Ideal.”

A round brilliant diamond has 57 or 58 facets. The proportions and angles of those facets can be used to predict how a diamond will sparkle. This is how the GIA grades diamonds. The AGSL goes a step farther, measuring the diamond’s light performance using modern science to assign the grade.

Always choose the best possible cut grade that your budget allows. It’s truly the most important component of diamond beauty. You can play around with the other Cs. For example, you might maximize carat weight by taking the color grade to an I or J, or choosing an eye-clean SI1. But, never compromise on the cut.