From all gemstones, diamonds are perhaps the most desired ones. ‘A girl’s best friends’, as they have been called, they have also come to symbolize strong, eternal love and this is the reason why diamond rings are offered by men the moment they become engaged to the woman of their life.
But as highly symbolic as diamond rings may be, their beauty is far from being complete if some essential details are overlooked when purchasing them. For example, one important element which we should be focusing on is the cut of the diamond which adorns the ring. Now, many people make the mistakes of believing that this is something which has to do with the shape of the diamond, but, in fact, they are two different things.
The shape is the form of a diamond and thus we can speak of pear, oval or heart shaped diamond, to name just a few. On the other hand, the cut refers to the reflective qualities of a diamond, as well as to its polish, proportioning and symmetry. All these elements have a great influence on the brilliance of a diamond and diamond cutters are well-aware of that.
Basically, the term ‘diamond cut’ designates the more or less perfect symmetry which characterizes the positioning of a diamond’s facets. As all these facets, taken together, can alter the shape and the looks of the gemstone, diamond cutters have to consider carefully the type of cut they choose. They choice should take into account aspects such as the shape and the size of the diamond crystal. And, as we have said before, polish and symmetry are also important elements in a cut as they can have a great impact on how smooth or how poorly or well aligned the facets are. Without a well-done polish, the luster of a diamond can look blurred, whereas a poor symmetry can result in a misdirection of the light coming in and out the diamond.
In what diamond cuts are concerned, we can speak of several different types in which they can be done, all developed in order to fully exploit the properties these beautiful gemstones have. The choice between one particular cut and another is determined by factors such as the form, in which the rough stone was initially shaped, the existence of any potential internal flaws and the place they are located, the concern for preserving the carat weight and the degree in which certain shapes are more or less popular amongst buyers.
Based on the style and arrangement of a diamond’s facets, diamond cut styles fall into three categories: brilliant, step and mixed. Each of these cuts can be easily distinguished from the others due to their particular features.
For instance, brilliant cut diamonds charm the viewer’s eyes with its facets in shapes of triangles and kites with their light radiating outwards. Among these, the round brilliant cut is probably the most sought after as round diamonds have as many as fifty-eight gorgeous facets reflecting the in and out light. Things change a little when we bring step cut diamonds into discussion. They can be described as being a type of diamond with sloping four-sided facets. Examples of step cuts are emerald ones with their usual rectangular shape or the old Asscher cut. Finally, mixed diamond cuts involve techniques borrowed from both brilliant and step cuts and are used quite often for colored gemstones.
As we can see, choosing a diamond ring is something more than just picking the size and color of the rock. As the beauty of it resides primarily in its brilliance, it is important to pay attention to the way in which it was cut. It may seem too much to be asked to an untrained eye, but we should not forget that we are not alone when deciding to buy jewelry. This is something we would usually do in a jewelry shop due to the multiple benefits they offer. Not only will we find here valuable advice from professionals, but also all the accessories we need.
