Beauty Revealed Within A Diamond - By: Victor Epand

Uncut diamonds so closely resemble pebbles that most people would often pass by without a single glance, which only a skilled diamond cutter would be able to unlock the fiery and brilliant beauty of this rare gem.

The diamond cutter cannot afford to make mistakes so that not only at risk is the diamond itself, but also the several hours to months of work required to mine, examine, cut, and polish each stone. On the average, each rough diamond crystal loses fifty percent of its original weight during this very time consuming process. Since the diamond's beauty depends on the way it reflects light, the cutter must shape the stone in such a way as to allow light to enter through the top then to be able to bounce around the inside and return out the top again.

Proper cutting of a diamond results in the maximum amount of light being able to be reflected so that the diamond sparkles with fire with its spectral colors, brilliance of white light, and scintillation of its sparkling effect. Improper cutting can affect not only a gemstone's beauty, but also its durability. Unfortunately, most diamonds on today's market are cut with a spread table, which is a large, octagonal-shaped facet on the top of the stone. This results in a stone that has the ability to display more brilliant white light, but less fire and scintillation.

Also, such stones look bigger than their actual weight due to a shallow total depth, which may be hidden in the mounting. Diamonds with spread tables offer more flash for less cash, because they look bigger and are more brilliant so they ultimately will cost less. However, be aware that these stones actually weigh less than they look and are more susceptible to chipping and damage.

Another cutting mistake to avoid is an extremely thin girdle, as this area is especially susceptible to chipping. Think of the girdle as the waist or diameter of the stone, which is the most exposed region of the stone, and thus more likely to receive abuse as your hand hits a hard surface. Another section of the stone to consider is the pavilion, which is the bottom region that is buried within the prongs of the setting. Although this area receives minimal abuse, its cut can drastically affect the beauty of the stone.

Deep pavilions result in a stone that is quite dark, while shadow pavilions produce a watery or dead appearance. Both of these problems are the result of unplanned light leakage, which is when light enters the stone, but does not bounce around and exit through the top, but instead the light leaks out through the bottom of the stone.

How can you compare the cut of a diamond and understand its affect on its value? There is a specific set of standards to which diamonds should be cut, which are known as the Ideal Proportions, and the best display a diamond's optical features and durability. The jewelry store you visit should discuss the cut on either the Gemological Institute of America, which is also known as the GIA, or the American Gemological Society, which is known as the AGS, scales, which compares it to these Ideal Proportions.

When shopping for diamonds, remember to compare all of the four C's, which are the cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. You should add a fifth C to that list, which is confidence in your jeweler, so it is important to choose a jeweler or gemologist who fas the ability to explain each of the four C's to you and how these factors affect a diamond's beauty and value. Also, be wary of any discount or bargain diamonds, which may be of a poor trade-off between quality and cost.

About the Author

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for personalized gifts, invitations, and fine jewelry. Find the best shopping for personalized gifts, invitations, greetings, and beauty of diamonds.

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