The Diamond Cuts Basics

  

         Within the realm of finding the perfect engagement ring,  buying the diamond is the most difficult part. No amount of studying or preparation will prepare the average person for the nearly impossible task of finding the perfect diamond without the consultation of a diamond expert. To really know diamonds, you need years of not only training but also experience. I always advise my clients: collect your information! Knowing what shape, size, and cut you’d like is a great way to narrow down what to look out and to utilize your appointment time, but don’t try and out-smart the gemologist. They are there to help you. Trust them and let them successfully find you the exact stone you are looking for. You wouldn’t advise your doctor what your ailment was if you were sick, you would give the symptoms you feel/see and then let him treat you. The same goes for gemologists. Now, it is important to pick the best gemologist you can find, and in this post I have come up with a few questions that every gemologist should be able to answer and answered them with the answers you, as a customer, want to hear.

What is the best diamond cut?

     What is the best diamond cut?This is an important question because most regular citizens don’t realize that the cut and the shape of a diamond are not the same thing. When we talk about diamond cut we are talking about the facets in the diamond that make it shine and sparkle. Think of the diamonds sparkle as a performance. You pay more attention to performances that have the most qualified performers. The cut of the diamonds determines that “performance” of sparkle. Honestly, the cut of a diamond is more important than the shape and the size when creating a stand-out diamond. All jewelers know there are different cut grades for diamonds and that an Excellent grading is the best. Diamonds with this grading are put into a unique category that shows their value. Everywhere in the world cuts their diamonds differently, so it’s important to understand the basics of cuts as well as which cuts are more popular in certain areas. I want all of my clients to know exactly where their diamond is coming from so they can better understand the high quality we use at my store. But it should be stated that, of course, the better the cut-the more expensive the diamond. But that doesn’t mean that if you have a slim budget you need to settle for a sub-par diamond. Just find a jeweler who’s willing to work with you and search for that perfect stone.

What are the diamond cut basics that I need to know, as a customer?

      As a customer, you need to know that diamonds are defined by percentages. The top of the diamond that you see when you look down at your hand is the table. The table should be around a 56%-61%, which means it isn’t the biggest part of the diamond. If you end up with a diamond where the table is the biggest part your diamond will be lifeless. Because there is such a significant difference between at table of 56% and a table of 61% it is good to not only have  the GIA certification of all the diamonds you’re looking at but also to view all the diamonds you’re considering side by side. Comparing multiple stones with tables in “perfect percentage” group will insure that you find the exact stone that you are looking for.

Why is the price of an Excellent graded diamond so different for other graded diamonds?

      This is one of the hardest things to make customers understand. We know that the cut makes the sparkle, but what some people may not know is that the cut is created by a human in a laboratory. They don’t come out of the earth pre-cut with the facets, although wouldn’t it amazing if they did! It takes a tremendous amount of training to create an excellent cut diamond and it’s very time consuming for the cutter. Just like any other consumer bought good, part of what your paying for is the work that went into creating the product. So, is the diamond you’re looking at in the top 40%, 10%, 5%, or 1% of the best cut diamonds? Where it sits in that spectrum is how the price is determined. For a top 1% diamond you can expect to pay 10%-15% more than a diamond with a lower percentage. Once again, just because you can’t fit a 1% diamond in your budget doesn’t mean you can’t have a beautiful stone. Again, you just need  the right jeweler to do the proper work to find exactly what you’re looking for.

But what about the shape?

      The great news about shape is that all shapes have excellent cuts. So follow your heart on which shape you want to go with for your engagement ring. Whether you want a classic round or oval or a more unique marquise cut stone, all follow the same cut grade and will allow you to find a beautiful stone that you adore.

How does the size of the diamond play into the cut grade?

      We measure the size of a diamond in carats. FUN FACT: the term carat came about from the first diamonds sellers weighing diamonds by comparing them to the weight of carob seeds. Size is totally a personal preference. A big diamond does not equal a quality diamond, but there can be some pretty incredible big stones. You should know though, if you have two stones that are the exact same carat size but ones cut grade is significantly better than the other, the one with the higher cut grade will seem bigger to the human eye. Once again that sparkle is what makes a diamond mesmerizing, not its actual size.

So what’s the significance of knowing about the different areas that cut diamonds?

      What is significant is that all of them use different methods and measurements to create their idea of “perfect facets”. If you have five diamonds from all over the world but give them to the same diamond cutter, they will end up looking identical. Whereas if you have five diamonds from the same area on the map but give one to each of the five specific diamond cutting areas, there will all be individuals and have exclusive characteristics. The five countries in the world that cut diamonds are: Russia, Belgium, South Africa, India, and Israel. After my 20 years of experience I think that the Russian cutter creates the most perfect cuts. So know what you’re paying for so after many years you can still look at your engagement ring and have it shine like it did the day you bought it.  

Why should I come to you to design my ring?

We involve you in every step of the process. At first, we will sit next to you and go over any concerns you have and any specific design elements you mind the ring to have. Once we have established exactly how you want the ring looks like, we will proceed with the design process. Once you see this design, if you want to make any change or if you have any questions or concerns we will be happy to address them for you. Our role is to help you to create the perfect ring and that means we will listen to you and make sure that your ring is indeed one of a kind.

We'll help you to design your dream engagement ring without stress and spending countless hours searching for your perfect ring. All you need to do is click on "Free Consultation" to get started.

By: Koorosh Daneshgar CEO/Design Chief

Email: Koorosh@WeddingBandscompany.com

Phone: 312-920-0726

Business Text Message Line:312-785-8333