What Is an Ideal Cut Diamond

If you are looking at engagement rings you want to get the prettiest, best value ring for your money. With all of the different cuts to choose from it can be hard to decide which to buy. While that choice depends on the look you want, for a diamond with the most sparkle you can't go wrong with an ideal cut diamond.

The ideal cut describes a diamond that is cut to an exact, mathematical proportion. It must have exactly 58 facets and each must be placed according to a formula. The diamond must be perfectly symmetrical. Because of the precision of the cut an ideal cut diamond maximizes the brilliance and sparkle in your stone.

In order to establish what the ideal cut for a diamond was Marcel Tolkowsky, a mathematician and the son of a family long involved in the business of diamonds, interviewed numerous people from all walks of life in London. He asked them to choose the most brilliant from several diamonds that he held. When they chose the one that they liked the best he took notes, asked them for details and then interviewed the best diamond cutters from his family's business. They helped him to come up with the proportions needed to create the most beautiful cut of diamond.

Once he had the proportions he created a mathematical formula to explain why the proportions produced a superior diamond to other diamond cuts. His Master's thesis on the ideal cut diamond was published in 1919 and it was so perfectly done it hasn't been improved up on in the nearly 100 years since it was written.

Cut is only the diamond's ability to reflect light. The quality of the cut is totally dependent on the diamond cutter while other aspects of the look of the stone are dependent on a combination of factors.

When a diamond is cut in these ideal proportions the reflection and refraction of light in the diamond is optimized. A diamond is cut this way will reflect the light that enters it from any direction. As the diamond moves it will show a myriad of colors and flashes of light because the light is being reflected through the top of the diamond.

When a diamond is cut too shallow the light reflects through the bottom leaving the diamond without fire; looking dull and lifeless.

When it is cut too deep the light is reflected at odd angles that cause it to disperse through the sides of the stone giving it a black appearance in the center.

There are differences in the look as well as the price of a very good cut diamond and an ideal cut. Whether a diamond is worth the higher cost of an ideal cut or you can be happy with a less expensive very good cut is up to you. Following are the five grades of diamond cuts, with the most expensive at the top and the least expensive at the bottom.

Ideal

The ideal cut maximizes the light in the diamond giving it fire and brilliance that other cuts don't have. Because it has a smaller table than other cuts the reflection of the light is intensified, much like having a flashlight in a small, dark closet rather than in a large garage. The Ideal cut is a premium cut, available in round diamonds only. Approximately 3% of all diamonds are Ideal cut.

Premium Cut

A premium cut is close in quality to an ideal cut, with 15% of stones falling into this category. The average person will not see much of a difference when comparing a premium cut to an ideal cut.

Very Good Cut

The very good cut reflects most of the light that enters the stone and has some fire and brilliance. It is am average stone; many chain jewelry stores will display very good cut diamonds.

Good Cut

A good cut diamond has little sparkle or brilliance but will be much less expensive than any of the previous stones.

Fair/ Poor Cut

These diamonds have been cut too shallow and narrow to reflect light. Reputable jewelers will not carry these cuts.

Choosing the Best Cut for You

Which diamond you will choose should depend on your budget and preferences. If you want to have the very best you may be happiest with a smaller stone in a higher grade cut. For those that want to look of a large stone but don't care so much about the actual cut one of the lesser cuts may be fine.

The most important factor in choosing the perfect diamond is to buy what you like and what you can afford – and make certain that it has been certified by a reputable gemologist.

Antique Victorian Engagement Rings

What Is a Chocolate Diamond