Everyone knows the unforgettable sparkle of a great piece of diamond jewelry. But behind every beautiful diamond ring is the rough stone it came from – a dull stone that looks like nothing more than a dirty piece of glass. So how are diamonds cut into prized heirlooms worth thousands of dollars or more? It takes the skill of a qualified diamond cutter. Diamond cutting is an intricate process that requires precision and years of experience. Let’s look at how rough diamonds from the earth become the beautiful and sparkling gemstones we know and love.
First, let’s start with a little bit of background information. Most of today’s diamonds were formed billions of years ago. Intense heat and pressure deep within the earth’s mantle turn carbon into diamonds. Volcanic eruptions helped bring these deposits close enough to the earth’s surface to be mined. India was the first to have diamond mines and significant diamond trading centers.
Learn more about how diamonds are formed.
Over the thousands of years that followed, diamond cutters refined the art of cutting and polishing. Today, the process of cutting a diamond involves five standard steps: planning, cleaving, bruting, polishing, and inspection. Let’s take a closer look at each and learn why they’re essential for your jewelry.
Analyzing the rough diamond before any cutting occurs is the first crucial step. This is when the diamond cutter determines the best way to cut the stone to maximize its beauty and value. They’ll decide what diamond shape to cut to minimize inclusions (internal flaws) or cut away. Whether the diamond becomes an oval, a square, or another diamond shape depends on the qualities of the rough diamond. The goal is to create the largest and most beautiful diamond while minimizing the amount of wasted diamond dust. Today, computer programs allow the diamond cutter to view the diamond in 3D to help them make these decisions.
Once the diamond has been planned, it is time to cut it. Diamonds are cut using two main methods: cleaving and sawing. Cleaving involves splitting the diamond rough along its natural lines of weakness, while sawing involves using a diamond-tipped saw to cut the diamond. The method used depends on the shape and size of the diamond.
Once the diamond cutter knows what the finished product will look like, it’s time to begin cutting. But how do you cut diamonds if diamonds are the hardest natural material on earth? First, there are two main methods: cleaving and sawing. Cleaving involves splitting the diamond along its natural lines of weakness, while sawing involves using a diamond-tipped saw to cut the diamond. Diamonds are indeed the hardest raw material on earth but have brittle parts too. Part of the art of diamond cutting is identifying these lines of weakness where it’s easier to cut. The method used depends on the shape and size of the diamond.
After the diamond has been cleaved or sawed, the next step is bruting, which involves shaping it into its final form. The diamond is placed onto a rotating lathe and a second diamond, known as a bruting wheel, is used to grind the edges of the diamond until it has the desired shape. This process also creates the diamond’s girdle, the thin band around the cut diamond’s circumference.
Once the diamond has been shaped, it is time to polish it. Polishing involves using a series of diamond abrasives to create smooth and reflective facets on the diamond. The stone is placed onto a diamond polishing wheel that is coated with diamond powder, and the wheel is slowly moved across the diamond’s surface. This process is repeated with progressively finer diamond abrasives until the cut diamond has a mirror-like finish.
The final step in the diamond cutting process is inspection. The diamond is examined for any flaws or imperfections that may affect its value. It is also weighed to determine its carat weight. Once the diamond has been inspected, it is ready to be set into a piece of jewelry.
Yes and no. Diamonds are the hardest naturally occurring substance on earth, but parts of them are brittle. Diamond cutters can identify these brittle spots and cleave them with a diamond-tipped tool, then continue cutting away with a steel blade.
Tools to cut diamonds
include diamond-tipped bronze or steel. Today lakers are widely used as well. There is also a manufactured substance harder than a diamond called wurtzite boron nitride and a harder substance found in meteorites called lonsdaleite.
Diamonds are cut
by professional diamond cutters who have received specialized training in cut diamonds. Spending time as an apprentice under a more experienced diamond cutter is almost always part of the training.
Since no two diamonds are the same, timing varies greatly, but it takes most diamond cutters around two weeks to complete steps 1-5 above.
A typical yield from a
rough diamond cut
is around 30%-50%. Much of the original rough stone ends up as diamond dust that’s cut and polished away.
The 4Cs – carat, color, clarity, and cut- are often thrown around when talking about diamonds. Many jewelers will tell you that the diamond’s cut is the most important. Why? Because it’s the only thing the diamond isn’t born with. In other words, it’s up to the diamond cutter to maximize the beauty of the diamond by cutting it in the best possible way. The color of the diamond and how many inclusions it has (clarity) can’t be changed. But how the diamond is cut impacts those other C’s. A good diamond cutter will maximize a diamond’s color, clarity, and carat weight by the way he cuts the diamond.
The Ultimate Guide To The 4 C’s Of Diamonds | BriteCo™
A well-cut diamond will have the right combination of brilliance, fire, and scintillation (sparkle). If a diamond is cut too shallow or deep, it will not reflect light properly and appear dull and lifeless. On the other hand, if a diamond is cut too thick, it will appear smaller than it is and will not sparkle.
It’s important to note that not all diamonds are cut similarly. How a diamond is cut depends on its shape, size, and preferences of the diamond cutter. There are many different diamond shapes, including round, princess, emerald, pear, and marquise. Each shape requires a different cutting technique to maximize its beauty and sparkle.
What types of diamond cuts are best for my engagement ring?
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Also Check:
Demystifying Rough Diamonds: Your Guide to the Different Types of Rough Diamonds
The Edgy Elegance of the Shield Cut Diamond
Transitional Cut Diamond | BriteCo Jewelry Insurance
Is a pear cut diamond best for my engagement ring?
We all know diamonds are expensive. But all the different shapes and styles can also be overwhelming. There are so many different types of diamond cuts and each has its unique qualities and price points. By and large, the single most expensive diamond cut is the round brilliant cut diamond. Today we’ll explain why that’s true and we’ll give you our expert opinion on the top 4 less expensive diamond cuts that should be on your radar.
The most expensive diamond shape is by far, the round brilliant cut diamond. This cut has 58 facets to reflect the maximum amount of light, making it the most sparkly and brilliant of all the diamond cuts. The round cut diamond requires a lot of skill and precision to cut correctly, which adds to its high cost. Making one also requires cutting away a large amount of rough diamond waste, more than any other diamond cut. So it’s also not cost-effective in that sense. As if that weren’t enough, round brilliant cut diamonds are also the most in-demand, driving up the price even further.
The round brilliant cut diamond is beautiful. Its round shape will never go out of style and its brilliance will stand out in any setting. But there are so many other diamond shapes that rival its beauty and cost considerably less.
We’ve rounded up the top 4 you need to consider.
One of the most popular alternative diamond cuts to the round diamond is the pear shaped diamond. This cut is shaped like a teardrop, with a rounded end and a pointed end. The pear cut diamond is a hybrid of the round brilliant cut and the marquise cut and has a similar sparkle and brilliance to the round cut. However, the pear cut is less expensive than the round cut because it retains more of the rough diamond during the cutting process. Less waste = a lower price tag.
The pear cut diamond is an excellent choice for eye-catching diamond engagement rings at lower price points. It is also a versatile cut that looks stunning in a variety of settings, from a solitaire engagement ring to a halo setting.
Is a pear cut diamond best for my engagement ring?
Exploring Types of Diamond Settings for Engagement Rings and Wedding Bands
Another gorgeous alternative to the round cut diamond is the emerald cut diamond. This cut has a rectangular or square shape with truncated corners. It’s a step cut, not a brilliant cut diamond – so it doesn’t have the sparkly facets of the round cut. Instead, it has a deep, hall-of-mirrors look and sparkles in firey flashes. Step cuts like the emerald showcase the diamond’s clarity and natural beauty, rather than their sparkle. The emerald cut diamond has a classic and elegant look, reminiscent of old Hollywood glamour.
The emerald cut diamond is typically less expensive than the round cut diamond because it is less labor-intensive to cut. However, because it is a step cut rather than a brilliant cut, it is less sparkly than the round cut. If you value elegance and sophistication over sparkle, then the emerald cut is perfect.
Are emerald cut diamonds best for my engagement ring?
Want a diamond cut that combines the brilliance of the round cut with the elegance of the emerald cut? Look no further than the cushion cut diamond. This cut has a square or rectangular shape with rounded corners and larger facets, giving it a soft and romantic look. The cushion cut diamond has a vintage feel that is perfect for someone who loves antique or vintage-style engagement rings.
The cushion cut diamond has a lot of sparkle and brilliance, but it is typically less expensive than the round cut diamond. It’s also a great choice for someone who wants a diamond with a unique and romantic look.
The marquise cut diamond is another great alternative to round cut diamonds. This cut has an elongated shape with pointed ends, like an eye or football shape. Like the round cut, it’s made with facets designed to reflect light and sparkle. The marquise is loved for being especially versatile. In some settings, it can look sleek and modern, but in others, it exudes a classic, vintage feel.
A marquise-shaped diamond also saves you money because it maximizes the diamond’s carat weight. Its elongated shape brings more of the diamond to the top, making it appear larger than it is. If you’d like a diamond that looks a lot bigger (and more expensive) than it is, then the marquise cut is right for you.
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Which cut of diamond is the LEAST expensive? Fancy shaped diamonds, which include all the diamond shapes that aren’t round brilliant cuts, will cost less overall. We think the marquise, cushion, emerald, and pear have the most to offer for the best price tags.
What is the most difficult diamond cut? The round brilliant cut is known for being the most difficult. The precision required plus the high amount of rough diamond that must be cut away takes a lot of skill. Some fancy shaped diamonds like the heart are known to be quite difficult as well.
Which is the sparkliest diamond cut? Once again, the round brilliant cut reigns supreme in the sparkly category. Other, less expensive, brilliant cuts include oval, pear, marquise, and heart-shaped diamonds. Cushion cuts and radiant cuts are known for their sparkle too.
Which diamond cut holds its value? Being ever-popular and in demand, round diamonds are a solid bet for holding on to their value. Nearly all diamonds lose their value over time though, especially with the rise of lab diamonds and other diamond alternatives. Ultimately, you should pick the cut you love and try to get the best price for it today.
What types of diamond cuts are best for my engagement ring?
How Are Diamonds Cut? | BriteCo Jewelry Insurance
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Also Check:
Unveiling the Brilliance of the Trilliant Cut Diamond
Square Emerald Cut Diamond | BriteCo Jewelry Insurance
The Edgy Elegance of the Shield Cut Diamond
Transitional Cut Diamond | BriteCo Jewelry Insurance