Diamond Cut Guide

What is a Diamond Cut?

Diamond cut refers to how well a diamond is proportioned, faceted, and polished. The best diamond cuts are symmetrical, beautifully proportioned, and expertly polished to allow light to enter and reflect with maximum brilliance. A well-cut diamond appears bright and full of life — while a poorly cut one can look dull and lifeless.

When cutting diamonds, symmetry plays a vital role in achieving the best light return (or simply, sparkle). The more precise the symmetry and polish, the more radiant the diamond.

How Are Diamonds Cut?

Cutting a diamond is a delicate process performed by expert craftsmen using high-precision tools. The process involves five key stages:

• Planning – determining the best shape and cut to maximize beauty and carat weight.
• Cleaving – splitting the rough diamond into smaller, workable pieces.
• Bruting – shaping the diamond into a basic round or outline form.
• Polishing – adding facets and bringing out the diamond's fire and brilliance.
• Inspecting – evaluating the final polish, symmetry, and cut grade for quality assurance.

Diamond Cut vs Diamond Shape

It's easy to confuse cut and shape, but they refer to different things. The cut describes how a diamond's facets are proportioned and polished to reflect light — while the shape refers to the diamond's outline or silhouette (such as round, oval, princess, etc.).

Types of Diamond Cuts

Diamond cut grades measure how well a diamond interacts with light. The better the cut, the more sparkle you'll see. Each diamond is assessed for brilliance, symmetry, polish, and fire — and graded from Excellent to Poor.