The cut grade of a diamond is not the same as its form; rather, it is the measure of how well light is returned to the viewer's eye through the diamond's table, or top. Because a good cut stone may reflect light through the diamond's table more efficiently than a badly cut stone, an exceptional cut diamond will have greater brilliance and fire. A badly cut diamond will lose part of its glitter and vitality as a result of light reflecting off the sides or bottom of the stone.
Brilliance, Fire (Dispersion) & Scintillation
A diamond has three different kinds of reflection, which combined give it its characteristic "sparkle": brilliance, fire (dispersion), and scintillation. When light strikes a diamond, it usually has two main effects: either it enters the diamond and scatters, or it reflects out of its table onto the viewer's eye.
When light enters a diamond and reflects straight off its table, the diamond is said to be brilliant. When light penetrates the diamond and disperses, it causes fire or dispersion. This is where the white light is divided into its many wavelengths, which explains why a diamond's glitter has colour bursts. The term "scintillation" describes the brief bursts of light that a moving diamond reflects.
How the Diamond Cut is Assessed
In order to provide the most exquisite balance of all three forms of reflection, the symmetry, polish, and dimensions of a diamond are evaluated in order to determine the diamond cut.
The ability of a diamond to reflect and refract light determines its cut grade. To guarantee that the diamond can reflect and refract light for maximum brightness, fire, and scintillation, a top grade diamond will have outstanding symmetry, polish, and cut.
Excellent Cut
A diamond with an outstanding cut grade is exceptional and uncommon; it has been cut to the ideal proportions to reflect the most amount of light through the diamond's table. A diamond with an exceptional cut grade will cost more than a diamond with a lesser cut grade of the same carat size.
Very Good Cut
When compared to an exceptional cut diamond, this cut often costs a little less. Though not quite as much as an exceptional cut, a very well cut diamond will reflect almost all of the light that enters the diamond.
Good Cut
The majority of light entering the diamond is reflected by this cut grade, however not as much as by a very well cut diamond. These diamonds typically cost less than a really well-cut stone with the same carat weight.
Fair Cut
A fair cut diamond will not have as much life and sparkle as a diamond which has a good cut grade or higher.
Poor Cut
Typically, poorly cut diamonds have tables that are so deep or shallow that very little light may get through them.
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