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A RAW diamond stone is cut into a particular shape. It is then polished and finished to produce a final diamond crystal. This whole process is called cutting a diamond.

Originally, raw diamonds found in nature have dull appearance, muddy and deformed surface wrapped by sticky materials. By polishing and creating flat surface, we unveil hidden beauty of the diamond stones.

Cut specifies the procedures adopted to cut, polish and finish the stone. Cut does not mean shape (round, princess or pear), but the symmetry, polish and finishing etc.

An ideal cut will produce a well symmetrical, well polished and well finished diamond stone. In other words, a cut specifies a set of guidelines to produce a finished diamond stone from a raw diamond stone.

A cut produces a beautiful finished stone that finds place in a diamond ring. The better the innovation, art and skill of the craftsman, the better is the cut. Diamond cutting requires deep technical knowledge, mathematical formulae, scientific methods and highly specialized instruments.

Parameters of a diamond cut are based upon the principles of optics in physics. An ideal diamond cut is the one that has perfect angles and symmetrical proportions of various planes that will reflect light internally in the best way.

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Ideal cut diamonds are very brilliant. Hence they have high demand in  market, so is their premium. Ideal cut diamonds are used to make diamond rings and other jewelry. Diamond cut affects beauty, value and durability of a diamond stone. Poorly cut diamonds, on the other hand, are sold at discounted price. A poorly cut diamond has less symmetrical arrangement of facets. It may have extra facets or less number of facets than the ideal cut. Angles and size of facets may also vary from guidelines.

Symmetry means external balance (equilibrium) and alignment of the facets of a finished diamond stone. If a diamond stone is not properly finished, its surface appears dull. Poor symmetry does not produce excellent brilliance.

Different diamond cutters have different skill level. Cutting diamond stone means loosing carat weight of the original stone. It is always desirable to cut a heaviest possible gem out of a rough diamond stone. In the mean time, it is equally important to cut it to ideal proportions to produce optimum brilliance. Some diamond cutters are better skilled to achieve both the goals simultaneously.

Cutting techniques date back to middle ages when there were no specific designs and cutting instruments available. The present day technology like cutting with laser rays have led to development of amazingly impressive diamond cuts with least wastage of material. Designing using CAD has been proved as a shot in the arm of diamond cutters.

Now, dia-mansion computerized program precisely measures the proportions of a raw diamond stone and gives accurate suggestions for an ideal cut.  It makes a 3-d model of the rough stone and suggests the ideal cut for it which makes it suitable for a diamond ring. Diamond cutters get aid of 3-d laser scanners which show color and place of inclusions in the raw diamond stone.

Diamond Cutting Process

Steps: Cleaving or sawing, bruting, polishing.

Cleavage: If a raw diamond stone has not a good shape, it can not be converted into a single finished gem stone. We have to split it into two pieces. Diamond splits easily in certain directions. Splitting the diamond stone along the weak direction is known as cleavage. Though diamond is hardest material, it has some weakness as well. It has octahedral cleavage, i.e. there are 4 planes where weak forces exist in the valence bonds. So it will split easier, if force is applied in these directions as compared to other directions. Cleavage is done by using a sharp blade and hammer.

Sawing: It is the process of cutting a diamond stone into two parts. It is cut at a place where there is no plane of weakness. Diamond is cut using a diamond saw, phosphor-bronze saw or laser rays.

Faceting: Faceting is a process of cutting flat surface of rough diamond to create proper facets. It converts the rough stone into a gemstone. It is done by using a machine called facetron.

Polishing: After cutting a diamond, it is important to polish it in a right way to bring out maximum beauty and attractiveness out of it. Polishing makes the diamond surface super fine to look, touch and feel. Polishing removes granular particles from surface of diamond and brings out a smooth clean surface. A polishing wheel coated with diamond powder rubs against the diamond stone to make it smooth.

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  Ideal Cut Diamonds are not so many
When you buy a diamond ring, keep one thing in mind. Most of the diamonds sold in market are not ideal cut. They are poorly cut. Main reasons responsible for this are:

  Cut of Diamond
As we earlier said, cut of a diamond is responsible for its brilliance. The angles and symmetry of a diamond cut determine its ability to manage light, which leads to brilliance. In an ideal cut diamond, light enters the diamond through table facet, passes to the pavilion, reflects from one side of pavilion to other side, reflects out of the diamond through the table to viewers eye.

  Cut Grade Scale
Excellent Diamond Cut (Ideal Cut): A diamond is said to be ideally cut when it produces the maximum possible brilliance, scintillation and fire. It reflects reflects almost all the light that enters into it resulting into exceptional beauty. Only three percent of the total diamonds belong to this grade.

  Diamond cut vs diamond shape
There are two terms: Diamond cut and diamond shape. Most people confuse these two term.