Diamonds CUT Grading Chart & Information

                                                                               Understanding Cut of the 4Cs, Plus Suggested Test Supplies

Cut doesn't just refer to the shape the brilliant stone is faceted into. 

"Cut" is commonly used to specify overall shapes, such as Round, Oval, Princess, Heart-Shaped, Radiant, Pear, Marquise, Emerald, Baguette (Trapezoid), Trillian, Square ("step" cut), etc... but this term also holds a much more intricate definition.

Carefully calculated Cut grades are assigned by gemologists and other experts based upon many features of the stone.  For round diamonds (the most commonly used shape) the GIA has developed a reliable 5-point grading system that grades a stones CUT depending on many factors & calculations related to Proportion, Symmetry, and Finish. 

Because the facets, angles, and shape help determine HOW LIGHT WILL MOVE through the stone, grades take into consideration Girdle Thickness, Culet Size, and many other measurements.  Stones who earn the Excellent cut grade in the GIA Diamond Cut Grading System have a girdle thickness between Thin (THN) and Slightly Thick (STK).  The GIRDLE is the widest part of the diamond, where the crown (top) meets the pavilion (bottom) of the stone.

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            DIAMOND ANATOMY DIAGRAM CHART:



GOOD CUTS REFLECT THE LIGHT BACK UP, OUT OF THE CROWN:

                                                                          
GIA'S FIVE-POINT GRADING SYSTEM
-Ideal/ Excellent – Excellent light performance. Reflects almost all of the light that enters. Rare and extremely beautiful cuts.
-Very Good – Very good light performance. Reflects almost all of the light that enters. Very Good diamond cuts are considered to be an outstanding value.
-Good – Good light performance. Reflects most of the light that enters. Good diamond cuts are far less pricey than Very Good cuts.
-Fair – Not as brilliant as a Good cuts or above, Fair diamond cuts are still considered good quality diamonds.
-Poor – Poor cut diamonds are typically cut too shallow or too deep causing much of the light to leak out of the diamond's sides and base. Most high end diamond retailers do not carry Poor cut diamonds.


SUGGESTIONS FOR THE BEST ESSENTIAL TEST EQUIPMENT
-For finding the Carat weight of dimonds and other precious loose gems, I recommend using the 20D model digital scale by DigiWeigh. I've been using this model for over a year with no problems or inaccuracies. Plus, the scale comes with calibration weight & accessories, and DigiWeigh offers a lifetime warranty.

-If you're interested in testing diamonds to find out if they're real or fake, there are a few electronic testers I'd recommend. The first is the Diamondnite Dn1 testing machine by Mizar.  The second is the Diamond P7 Analyzer made by Puritest, which is the newest of the two machines.


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