4 C’s Ideal cut diamonds: quality of Cut Carat Color Clarity

Diamond 4 C's for quality diamonds: Ideal Cut measurements, Color, clarity + Carat grading chart for ideal cut diamonds

Cut Color Carat weight Carat size Clarity Shape

Ideal cut diamonds are controversial. The proportions, glitter, brightness or brilliance and beauty are subjective!

Table - Crowhight - Pavillion - Cullet - You can compare it with ideal proportions of human beings. One likes or doesn't like

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Cut and shape are frequently confused.

Diamond cutting is the art, skill and science of changing a diamond from a rough stone into a faceted gem.

'Cut' has two meanings in relation to diamonds. The first is the shape: round, oval and so on. The second relates to the specific quality of cut within the shape and the quality and price will vary very greatly based on the cut quality. Read more about at Wikipedia, the art of diamond cutting

Shape is the model or form of the diamond, such as round, oval, pear, princess and more. Cut refers to proportions and the finishing grade.

To shallow and / or to deep cut diamonds will lose brilliance through the side and bottom. The result is less brilliance, affecting the ultimate value in terms of quality and price!

The cut is the most important element to reflect brilliance and is determinable by 2 separate descriptions :

1. Proportions & symmetry - see picture of proportions excellent cut diamond

see ideal proportions of shapes below

2. Finishing & polishing grade.

These are the most important elements for the brightness

of the diamond.

Best Cut = Best Buy: choose first of all the best cut with

good proportions and polishing. That gives the brilliance to your diamond.

Ideal Proportions & Symmetry:

Proportions are the sizes and angles of a diamond defined as:

How Diamond Laboratories grade the cut:

Excellent or Very Good = Ideal cut

Good = Good cut

Fair = acceptable fair cut

Poor = not recommended cut!

Unusual = disproportion in cut or fancy cut. Example: horse cut

Ideal cut diamonds are more expensive!

Diamond Cut Grade Chart for round brilliant diamonds

Proportions: Total depth % Table % Crown % Crown angle ° Pavilion % Pavilion angle °

Excellent: 58.0 - 63.5 52.0 - 63.0 12.0 - 16.5 31.5 - 36.5 42.0 - 44.5 40.0° - 41.7°

Very Good: 55.0 - 65.5 52.0 - 66.0 10.0 - 17.5 28.5 - 38.0 41.5 - 45.0 39.7° - 42.3°

Good: 53.0 - 69.0 50.0 - 70.0 8.5 - 19.0 26.0 - 40.0 41.0 - 46.5 39.4° - 42.9°

Fair & poor: less than less than less than less than less than less than

Girdle

Excellent: Thin to slightly thick

Very Good: Very thin to thick

Good: Extremely thin to very thick

Fair & poor: Other

Symmetry is the balance and regularity / evenness of facets.

Facets are compared in opposing pairs,

defined as following:

Very Good. (some laboratories describe this by Excellent)

Good. (some laboratories describe this by Fair)

Poor.

Unusual.

Finish grade or polish for ideal cut diamonds are described as following:

All facets of a diamond are carefully polished to eliminate all imperfections, characteristics such as abrasions, scratches, nicks and polishing marks on the surface of the diamond to give the mirror shine and the final beauty touch.

Very Good. (some laboratories describe this by Excellent)

Good. (some laboratories describe this by Fair)

Poor

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4 C's

How much

Carat size, Color, Clarity, Cut

and Carat weight affects the value of diamonds

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comparison

Cut grading chart

Color grading chart