So you’ve decided to buy a diamond engagement ring and the search has begun. Most couples find that buying a diamond engagement ring is a complicated and intricate process that takes up a lot of time and money. There are numerous things to consider, including the style and budget of the ring. However, one of the most important factors is the quality of the diamond itself. And when it comes to colorless or white diamonds, cut is paramount.
The cut can make or break a diamond. The cut will largely determine how brilliant and fiery the diamond is and will influence its light performance. This is why of the 4 diamond Cs (cut, color, clarity and carat), cut quality ranks as the most important.
In this article, we’ll take a look at why diamond cut is the most important and how you can choose the right cut quality for you.
The Importance of Diamond Cut
Diamond cut refers to the way the stone has been faceted and shaped to maximize the sparkle and light performance of the stone. Note that it doesn’t refer to the shape of the stone. The cut is the most important quality factor because it influences the way the stone sparkles, and after all, that’s what we look for in a diamond, isn’t it? The sparkle factor.
If the cut of a diamond is of low quality, it doesn’t matter how clear the stone is or how high the color grade. The diamond will most likely appear lifeless and dull. If a diamond is cut too deep, it will make the stone look smaller than it is but conversely if it is cut too shallow, the light return may be minimal and the stone can take on a glass-like appearance.
It is important, then, to find the right balance between these two extremes and to choose a diamond that is well faceted and proportioned. This is why it is best not to compromise on the cut quality of your stone.
The cuts with the best sparkle are the round brilliant cut followed by the princess cut. These particular cuts have been carefully designed to allow for maximum light performance, ensuring that the diamond’s sparkle is its focus. Other diamond cuts are also brilliant, but often not as much as these.
How to Choose Your Diamond’s Cut
When choosing the quality of your cut, you will notice that different retailers use varying cut scales. The standard cut quality scale is that by GIA or AGS, which ranges as follows:
Poor/Fair, Good, Very Good, Excellent/Ideal.
You can get good bang for your buck by choosing a Very Good cut. If you can go higher, then even better. The Excellent / Ideal grades have great sparkle and are beautifully shaped stones.
Most retailers have an extra cut category, commonly known as Super Ideals. Each retailer may have a trademarked name for these diamonds, but these are commonly referred to as Hearts and Arrows These diamonds have stunning light performance, exacting symmetry and overall superior quality. Of course, these come with a premium, but for some shoppers, it’s worth the cost to have a sparkling diamond for life.
One last tip: ensure that you set a budget to help keep you in line. It’s so easy to end up spending way more than what you were planning to at the start when it comes to diamonds. When buying your diamond, opt for the best cut grade that suits your budget.
Now that you have a clearer idea about the importance of diamond cut, which grade do you think you’ll choose?