Diamond Education - Cut

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Depth, width, roundness, and uniformity of facets determines the brilliance of a diamond. Of the 4 C's, the cut of a diamond is the only one that we can actually control. A rough stone in the hands of a skilled craftsman can be transformed into a gem of true beauty. How the cut influences the brilliance of a diamond As light enters a diamond, it reflects off its many facets. This gives a diamond its brilliance and sparkle. The angles of the facets - in relation to the other facets on the top and bottom of a diamond - initially determine the quality of the cut. In addition, the top and bottom portions of the diamond must have the correct proportions in relation to each other. A stone that is cut too deep (or too shallow) will lose much of its brilliance, as shown in the diagram below. Finally, a well cut diamond will have a table, the flat upper surface of the diamond, with the correct size in relation to the overall size of the stone. What does this mean? A well cut diamond will maximize the amount of light that reflects out of it. A poorly cut diamond allows the light to escape out its bottom and sides, reducing the overall brilliance of the diamond. What makes up a diamond's cut
The Diameter -   The Depth -   The Table -   The Girdle -   The Crown -   The Culet -   The Pavilion -	Is the width of a diamond, measured through its widest part (girdle). Is the height of a diamond, measured from the table to the culet. Is the flat part on the top of the diamond, which is also the largest facet on the stone. Is the outer edge of the diamond, and is the widest part of the diamond. The girdle is rated by its thickness. Experts suggest seeking stones with girdles that are not too thick or too thin. Is the portion of the diamond that extends from the table (top) to the girdle (middle). Is the bottom point of the diamond. In many cases it contains a very small facet. The smaller the culet the better. Is the portion of the diamond that extends from the girdle (middle) to the culet (bottom).