Cut

The shape and proportion of a diamond is vital in determining a stones brilliance.
The better the cut the more valuable a diamond becomes for it gives off more light, takes longer to produce and has higher finishing costs .
Though there are many different types of shapes the round brilliant cut is still the most popular choice and in the finest Excellent cut diamonds a visual phenomenon called Hearts and Arrows appears when viewed in a gemscope.
Diamond specialists have one of the largest ranges of round brilliant cut diamonds so come visit us to discuss your diamond needs.

Many people confuse cut with the shape of a diamond where in fact cut refers to the proportions and angles of a diamond.
Diamonds are available in a variety of shapes such as round, square, pear, heart and oval. It takes a master cutter to fully bring out the diamonds full beauty in all shapes. A well cut diamond will reflect light from one facet to the other and projects the light through the top of the stone. Diamonds that are cut too shallow or deep will leak light through the sides or bottom giving it a lackluster appearance thus diminishing value.

A diamond that has an "Excellent/Ideal" cut is generally used to describe an exceptional diamond in terms of brilliance and dispersion. There is no one set of universally accepted dimensions for different laboratories each grade diamonds differently and with differing tolerances.
There are two main ideal cut standards in the market today, the Belgian standard and the American standard. The Belgian standard is based on Marcel Tolkowsky’s proportions of 1919 and was universally accepted until recently as the only excellent/ideal cut. Recently an American standard was presented and is now gaining popularity. Both standards are accepted a being excellent cuts by all leading grading laboratories.
The GIA has 5 levels of cut: excellent, very good, good, fair and poor. A diamond with a cut grade of ‘excellent or very good’ from the GIA can be said to be an ideal cut diamond. A grade of good can be seen as nearly an ideal cut. Purchasing a diamond with a GIA certificate will give you that extra peace of mind when it comes to cut and finish.

Because most diamonds are cut with the aim of maximizing weight, most diamond cutters will sacrifice beauty for size. The bulk of diamonds on the market tend to have a larger "table" or top diameter for it gives the appearance of a larger stone. Less than 5% of diamonds on the market have proportions that are classified as very good, making them quite rare.

A diamond with what's called a TRIPLE EX rating (ie. Excellent cut, polish and symmetry) can be said to be a perfectly proportioned stone with exceptional luster and shine. We specialize in TRIPLE EX stones with a GIA certificate so pop in and see the difference yourself!