RAPAPORT... One of the greatest ongoing debates in the industry centers around diamond cut. There are many schools of thought on what makes a well-cut diamond. Along with the traditional cuts, there are numerous proprietary cuts, all claiming to create the most beautiful diamond. Without a doubt, cut is the most controversial of the 4Cs. It is also the most difficult to quantify, despite the numerous machines and gadgets that measure the sparkle and liveliness of a stone. One thing that everyone does agree upon, however, is that nothing dances like a well-cut diamond. Cut is arguably the most important of the 4Cs. A diamond that is well cut may have a shaky color grade and it may even be on the smallish side, but it can look far better than its pedigree because of the optical illusions created by the cut. On the other hand, a diamond may have size, a high color and clarity grade, as well as provenance, but if it is not well cut, it can look glassy and lifeless. It is the skill of the diamond cutter — whose job requires patience, a steady hand and a good eye for knowing how to truly capture the magic of each individual stone — that makes a diamond great. It is the sharp eye and experience of the cutter that really brings the celebration to the diamond so that the gem can capture the imagination of the consumer. A somewhat mysterious process, many people don’t really know what goes into cutting a diamond. In this issue of Rapaport Diamond Report, we salute diamond cutters as we take a look at how a diamond is cut and what it takes to bring out the best from a piece of rough.
Amber Michelle
Editor in Chief
Article from the Rapaport Magazine - February 2010. To subscribe click here.