Like any other gemstone, the diamond doesn’t come out all perfect and ready. It has to undergo a number of processes in order for its true beauty to be revealed. When these diamonds are mined, they come in different forms and sizes; not exactly the kind you see on bracelets, necklaces, earrings and rings. These fresh from the earth diamonds have to be polished first and the flat surfaces symmetrically arranged in order to create the perfect cut for each piece.
The type of cut for each diamond will not only determine the price but its brilliance as well. Prior to cutting a fresh diamond, a diamond cutter has to consider the innate size and shape of the diamond before finally deciding on which type of cut would best fit.
There are certain parameters that have to be attained in order for a diamond cut to be considered perfect and these are: levels of white light being reflected when a diamond is viewed from above, flashes of light coming from within the diamond and lastly flashes of light generated when a diamond is moved. Each cut will determine a diamond’s brilliance so prior to picking out that perfect jewelry you might as well first consider the cut of the gemstones embedded on it.
There are various diamond cuts such as the marquise, princess cut, pear shaped cut, oval cut and a whole bunch of others. However, there are those cuts that turn out to be a crowd favorite and these are:
Round Diamonds or Round Cut Diamonds
This type of cut is the crowd favorite which may be due to the diamond’s ability to reflect more light as well as generate colored flashes of light from within. For a diamond to be shaped this way more rough edges have to be removed, as well as a whole lot more polishing has to be done.
In addition, this round cut possesses this particular visual effect termed as hearts and arrows which can only be achieved when a round diamond possesses perfect symmetry and angles. The facets must be aligned very well in order for this particular effect to be viewed. Specifically, when a round diamond is viewed from the bottom, eight perfectly symmetrical heart shapes should be seen and when viewed from the top, eight aligned, excellently shaped arrows can be spotted.
Princess-Cut Diamonds
This cut utilizes most of the diamond’s natural form. There is less cutting on the sides as compared to round cut diamonds, therefore there is less weight loss. In order for a princess cut to appear like a square to on-lookers, its length to width ratio must be 1.05:1. If this cut is made creating the effect wherein the diamond’s crown is a little bit higher, it will then most likely be able to gather more light allowing the diamond to sparkle more, adding more fire and increasing the degree of brilliance.
Emerald Cut Diamonds
The emerald cut embodies sleekness and elegance. In this type of cut the sides are designed in such a way to bear a resemblance to the steps of a stair. In order for a diamond cutter to achieve this effect the facets or flat areas have to be broad. This cut may make a diamond look rather rectangular; however, the corners are cut making the edges smoother. The ratio for this cut’s length to width is 1.35:1.
Asscher Cut Diamonds
This cut is the square version of the emerald cut. Having this type of cut on a ring or bracelet will have the owner looking regal and surely heads will turn. The styling for this cut is termed as art-deco which is a merge of the traditional and old world charm with the modern cutting and flat surfacing processes. Asscher cut diamonds are the living testaments of what blinding brilliance is. In addition to that, the length to width ratio for this type of cut should not exceed 1.1:1.
The above mentioned cuts are the four most sought after diamond shapes. Prior to purchasing one, it would be best to consider which type of cut would best suit your needs. If the jewelry is going to be a gift, it would be advisable to consider the recipient’s choice or preference when it comes to her diamonds.
