The round brilliant:
In 1919 a mathematician from Russia known as Tolkowsky worked out the theoretical proportions of this cut to enhance the brilliance of the stone by letting the light catch the facets perfectly. This particular cut is the most popular and divides the diamond into three main sections including the crown (the top of the diamond), which has 33 facets that are perfectly aligned. Secondly, the girdle (middle section of the stone between the crown and pavilion), which has either 24 or 25 facets. This cut is synonymous with the enhancement of aesthetic value and further brilliance of the stone, an excellent choice for a diamond ring and engagement ring.
Oval cut:
The oval cut is similar to the round brilliant and was created by Lazare Kaplan in the 1960’s. It has 56 facets and also captures the brilliance of the diamond. The oval cut can be a good variation from the round brilliant for someone who wants to try something else and new. The oval cut also appears to be bigger in size than the round brilliant.
Marquise:
Also known as the ‘Navette’, this shape has been described as somewhat of a football shape when viewed from the top. The method used to get this shape is called the ‘step cut’. This diamond has a lot more sparkle as it accentuates the length and width of the diamond. This cut would be perfect in an engagement or diamond ring for a lady who has slender fingers.
Pear:
This shape has the appearance of a teardrop and is most commonly used for pendants or earrings. The colour of the stone is enhanced with this cut and is a good choice for a more petite diamond ring.
Emerald:
This cut has a rectangular shape with truncated corners and stepped facets, this cut also enhances the colour of the stone and has a more classic and elegant feel to it. This cut is also a good option for an engagement or diamond ring.
Baguette:
The baguette cut is a longer cut, its cut more emerald shaped to have the correct proportions. If it’s the main stone in the diamond ring a more rectangular shape must be obtained. Baguette is a shape for people who want a longer stone, usually smaller baguette diamonds are used to accompany other diamond cuts in diamond rings or engagement rings.
Princess:
The princess cut is the second most popular cut to the round brilliant; even though it displays a fair amount of brilliance the facet style is quite unique to that of the round brilliant. The princess cut has a square/rectangular appearance and from the side almost looks like an inverted pyramid. In earlier years the cut was also known as the “French cut”.
The cutting process:
Diamond cutting has been perfected over the centuries to give the best quality and visually attractive stones for engagement rings, diamond rings and other jewellery containing diamonds. The diamond cutting process consist of a few steps namely; planning, cleaving/sawing, bruting, polishing and final inspection.
Planning:
The manufacturers analyze the rough diamond to see how the diamond must be cut to emphasise the brilliance, 3D scanning devices are used to obtain a model of the rough stone, and inclusions are then photographed and scanned into the model to find the optimal way to cut the stone to increase the value and appearance.
Cleaving/sawing:
The rough diamond gets separated into pieces and these smaller pieces get finished as separate stones. The includes the use of a diamond saw or a laser to cut through the diamond, because diamonds are the hardest substance known to man these special tools must be implemented to cut the rough diamond into the beautiful piece you see in your diamond ring.
Bruting:
This process consist of two diamonds being set onto axles that are spinning in opposite directions, they then grind against each other to achieve a round shape with each diamond which makes it easier to obtain the preferred cut.
Polishing:
The polishing process is where the facets are polished and cut onto the diamond, final touches are then also applied to the diamond. There are a few steps regarding the polishing of the diamond including; blocking and faceting which is also known as “brillianteering”. This step is the final touch to the shape of the diamond.
Final Inspection:
With this final step they ensure the quality and appearance of the diamond is up to standard with the manufacturer by thoroughly cleaning the stone with acids. A professional diamond inspector then takes a look at the stone and approves or disapproves the diamond. Quality control is necessary to ensure you receive the best diamond for your engagement ring.
Every small step in the process of manufacturing diamonds is critical, without these advanced methods of improving the stones the appearance would remain primitive and unappealing as the shine and beauty of the diamond would remain hidden beneath the dull exterior. Daily new ways of cutting are being experimented with to further enhance the value and appearance of diamonds, the results benefitting any diamond ring owner or the average man looking for an engagement ring to take that first step into married life. |
