CUT GRADE

Cut Grade » Colour » Clarity » Carat Weight

The only one of the 4C's that is within our control is a diamond's cut. Cut is the result of a craftsman's skill in transforming a rough diamond into a breathtaking gem. A diamond has facets that allow light to enter it, become refracted, and exit in a rainbow of colours. So it follows that a better cut diamond does a better job of dazzling us with its beauty. Here's the 'secret' to how a diamond sparkles:

As you can see, the diamond with the correct proportions does a more effective job of refracting light out the top of the stone to your eye. The less-than-ideal cut diamonds allow some light to become lost out the bottom.

In order to simplify your diamond selection process we have developed a simple grading system based on the table and depth percentages of all the diamond shapes available. This grading system should be used as a general guide and should not be confused with the cut grade of independant certification authorities like GIA, AGS or EGL.

If you are looking for the ultimate 'sparkler', we recommend you search for stones which are of either "IDEAL" or "PREMIUM" cut.

IDEAL	This diamond has been cut to reflect the maximum amount of light, thus intensifying the fire and brilliance of the stone.
PREMIUM	This diamond has been cut to reflect nearly all light as fire and brilliance. The difference between "Premium cuts" and "Ideal cuts" are imperceptible. A "Premium cut" stone is still considered to be an exceptionally proportioned stone.
EXCELLENT	This diamond has been cut to reflect a great deal of light as fire and brilliance. The difference between "Excellent cuts" and "Premium cuts" are imperceptible. An "Excellent cut" diamond is still considered to be a very well proportioned stone.
VERY GOOD	This diamond has been cut to maximise carat weight, whilst maintaining as much fire and brilliance as possible. This cut is extremely desirable to those who want a good balance between size and sparkle against their budget.
GOOD	This diamond has been cut to maximise carat weight whilst still reflecting light as fire and brilliance. A "Good cut" offers excellent value for money and is still a very acceptable choice for most jewellery.
FAIR	This diamond has been cut to maximise the carat weight of the diamond whilst still reflecting some light as fire and brilliance. This cut is extremely desirable for those who wish to maximise the size of their diamond for their money.
POOR	This diamond has been cut to maximise the carat weight of the diamond.