Though most people associate diamonds with brilliant, glittering, colorless gems, a rough diamond is actually looks much like an ordinary, filthy rock. Diamonds are extremely good for reflecting light, but they must be cut and polished first. There are several different cuts designed for all of the different diamond types, as a jewel must be cut so that it can reflect all of the light that it is exposed to, to the best of its natural abilities.

The process of cutting the diamond is also essential when determining its cost, quality, and value. Jewelers take the process very seriously, taking several years simply to cut one gem. The process is very mathematical, as the facets of the diamond must be set perfectly, so that all of the angles are even and placed to bring out the color and glamor in the jewel. The International Gemology Institute dedicates a considerable section of their IGI appraisals to an analysis of a diamond’s cut.

Even though computers and lasers are used in modern day diamond cutting, around fifty percent of the total rock is lost in the cutting and polishing process. The most popular cut is affectionately referred to as the brilliant cut. A brilliant is round on top, though the gem itself is cone shaped as to maximize the amount of light that goes through the top. Octahedral shaped diamonds are usually subjected to the brilliant cut, as it is makes it easier to craft two gemstones from a single rock.

Cuts that are not brilliant, but still look nice, are called “fancy cuts.” Fancy cuts are used for oddly shaped diamonds or for fashion and art. The princess cut is the second most popular next to the brilliant cut. It is in the shape of an inverted pyramid, with the uppermost face a square or rectangle. Many GIA diamond rings are crafted with a princess cut. It was invented in the 1960s, making it a fairly young cut of diamonds when compared with styles that have been around since medieval times.

The princess cut is also sometimes called the “square modified brilliant,” possibly because both styles are so shiny and popular. However, the princess cut is entirely different than the brilliant cut. The style can be traced back to the “French cut,” which is one of its most direct predecessors. Unlike most cuts, it manages to utilize 80% of the original diamond. This causes the cut to be cheaper to consumers, and more popular amongst retailers and jewelers.

Before diamond cutting, during Middle Ages, diamonds in jewelry were used in their rough states, the poorer quality diamonds simply being ignored. Diamonds began to be more refined as people started to polish them, creating slight facets, or cutting a more desired shape from the less appealing rocks. Guilds of diamond polishers were formed, and the art was developed until it turned into the extremely high-tech practice that it is today.

Allison Ryan is a licensed gemologist from San Diego, CA. She specializes in GIA diamond rings that have passed IGI appraisals and are considered to be best value diamonds. For beautiful diamonds for all types of jewelry, check out http://www.diamondwave.com/.

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