If you need to determine the quality of a diamond, you must understand the 4 C – color, clarity, cut and carat weight. The most important of the 4 C is the cut. It refers to how the facets of the diamond interact with light. Polish, symmetry, and proportion determine the cut. A proper cut represents the beauty of the diamond. Diamonds from the Alexander Sparks, from the smallest to the largest, are cut to exacting standards.
Why is diamond cutting important?
If a diamond is poorly cut, it will appear opaque even if it has high purity and color ratings. If a diamond is well cut, it will reflect and refract light, producing maximum brilliance. At Alexander Sparks, they are committed to crafting diamonds with the most specialized proportions. In their workshops, world's most talented artisans design diamonds to exacting standards. This precision is what sets Alexander Sparks diamonds apart.
Diamond cut quality importance
Cutting is the only one of the four Cs that is affected by human hands. Two diamonds can have the same purity, color and carat weight, but the cut is what determines the superiority of each other. Simply put, cutting is responsible for the quality and degree of brilliance of a diamond.
Three factors determine the cut of a diamond – cutting precision, symmetry, and polishing. The highest degree of cut in the industry, called “triple excellent”, is given to diamonds that are excellently graded for cutting precision, symmetry and polishing. All individually registered brilliant-cut colorless diamonds used in lab grown diamond wedding rings.
Diamond cutting table
While most jewelry stores accept “excellent”, “very good”, “good”, “fair” and “bad” cuts, Alexander Sparks refuses to compromise and only accepts that the cut of their diamonds meets exceptional standards. Diamonds from other jewelry stores sometimes have cuts that are too deep or too shallow, allowing light to escape from the sides and bottom. They can also have misaligned facets, which stop the light from moving.
What is the shape of a diamond?
Diamond shape refers to its geometric appearance. Shapes are classified into two groups – round diamonds and fancy shape diamonds. Round diamonds, also known as brilliant cut, are the most traditional shape of diamonds. Fancy shape diamonds refer to any diamond that does not have a brilliant cut. Alexander Sparks offers a wide variety of diamond shapes and cuts to ensure each ring is as extraordinary as the love it represents.
Diamonds with brilliant cut
Brilliant cut is one of the most popular diamond shapes for its intense brilliance. These diamonds are cut to optimize brightness, with over 56 facets that reflect light and emit tiny rainbows in a dazzling display of brilliance and contrast.
Princess cut diamonds
The princess cut diamond is known for her contemporary and sparkling style. It is one of the most famous fancy shapes. These diamonds feature a square pointed brilliant cut. What make this shape outstanding are its 50+ chevron-shaped facets. As a result, you get the shinier diamond engagement ring.
Emerald cut diamonds
These diamonds are sought after for their understated glamour and dazzling depth. This octagonal step cut features rectangular and parallel facets, and its wide table highlights the color and purity of the stone.
Cushion cut diamonds
Cushion cut diamonds (rounded edges) are a unique version of the classic brilliant cut.
Oval diamonds
The oval shape is an elegant combination of diamond with a marquise and brilliant cut. The oval shape diamond creates an illusion of longer fingers, thanks to the brilliant cuts that include sparkling facets. If you believe in yourself, and want to express your inner beauty and self-esteem, an oval shaped diamond is perfect for you. They are bold and sophisticated.
Heart-shaped diamond rings
Who can forget that deep blue ‘the heart of the ocean’ diamond necklace from the movie Titanic? Do you know what special about it? The answer is the heart-shaped diamond. Heart-shaped diamond looks spectacular be it on an engagement ring or a necklace. They are true symbol of love. Its perfect symmetrical curves let the lights dance and reflect subtle rainbow. Bursting with feeling and as rare as true connection, the heart-shaped diamond is an excellent choice for romantics.
Brilliant cut
Brilliant cut is the most common facet arrangement. It is made of kite-shaped, triangular facets, all arranged to optimize brightness, or light return. Brilliant cut, with 57 or 58 facets, is the brightest diamond cut. Diamond shapes that use brilliant cut are cushion, oval, marquise, pear or heart shaped diamonds. It is why they all hold a similar level of shine.
Step cut
Step-cut diamonds have trapezoidal facets. This style of facets highlights the color and purity of the diamond. The best-known step cut is the emerald cut.
Mixed-cut Diamond
Mixed cuts feature a combination of facets from brilliant and step cuts. We never say something is good enough. It needs to be the most beautiful in the world.
All Alexander Sparks’ diamonds are cut to perfection to maximize shine. In general, you can see three diamond cuts, namely – brilliant cut, step cut and mixed cut.
Difference between cut and diamond shape
It is important to emphasize that cut and diamond shape is not the same thing. A diamond's cut is determined by how its facets interact with light. The geometric appearance of the diamond is determined by the shape. Cutting defines the shape of the rough diamond, not the other way around. The cut of a diamond's shape determines how it will shine. It is because cutting determines the number of facets in a diamond and how light passes through the stone.
Facets are the flat, polished surfaces of diamonds. They are like tiny mirrors. Each of them is precise, and proportionate to maximize the ability of the diamonds to reflect the lights. While the quality of the cut is the most important factor behind a diamond's brilliance, color and purity ratings are also important.
Conclusion
However, which diamond shapes shine the most? Each diamond shape has its facet and cut style, which produces varying levels of brilliance. At Alexander Sparks, they reject any diamonds with impurities visible to the naked eye. While some say that elongated shapes such as ovals, pears and emeralds look larger on the finger, others believe that the brilliance of a brilliant-cut diamond is what makes it stand out from a distance.
