| The cut of a diamond refers to the how many | | | | Oval cuts have 69 facets. If done skilfully, Oval |
| facets there are in the finished gemstone and | | | | cut gemstones can have nearly as much |
| how they are proportioned. The skill and precision | | | | scintillation and fire as Round Brilliants. |
| of the faceting affects the gemstone's fire and | | | | Baguette |
| sparkle, making it look dull or flash with fire. The | | | | The 20 facets of this cut produces a rectangular |
| most common types of diamond cut are: | | | | gemstone and can really only be used for |
| Round Brilliant | | | | gemstones with roughs which are this shape. The |
| This 57 facet cut is also known as the Round cut, | | | | faceting is done in steps, parallel to the edges. |
| American Ideal cut and the American Standard | | | | The base and table are square with triangular |
| cut. The table (top) of the finished gemstone is | | | | facets. |
| normally 56% of the diameter and is a regular | | | | Trillion |
| octagon. The recommended cut height is 58% of | | | | Also known as Trilliants, this cut is based on a |
| the diameter, of which around 14% is the crown | | | | triangular shape and has 43 facets. The corners |
| (the top part of the diamond above the girdle), | | | | are usually truncated but the tips and culet |
| and around 43% is the pavilion (lower part of the | | | | (bottom point) are typically pointed and thin |
| diamond). The mathematically calculated | | | | making many jewelers reluctant to prong set |
| dimensions give the maximum brilliance and | | | | trilliants. The culet is typically centered in the |
| scintillation for a truly sparkling diamond. Round | | | | middle of the table when viewed from the top of |
| brilliants are the most popular cut of diamond and | | | | the gemstone. The overall geometry enables lots |
| the number one choice for solitaires. | | | | of fire and color to be seen making it especially |
| Princess | | | | suitable for light colored gemstones. |
| Also known as the Square Modified Brilliant, this is | | | | Marquise |
| a square variation of the Round Brilliant. The table | | | | This is also called the Navette cut. The 57 facets |
| of the gemstone is again faceted into an octagon, | | | | produce an elongated, pointed oval, in which the |
| but in such a way as to be nearly square. In | | | | length is around twice the width. This is a tricky |
| contrast to the Round Brilliant, the depth of a | | | | cut because if too shallow, the light will pass |
| Princess cut diamond is often 70-78% of the | | | | through the back of the gemstone, reducing color |
| diameter. It has 76 facets, which produce a large | | | | and brilliance. Well cut Marquises flash with good |
| amount of sparkle, making it the second most | | | | color. There are a number of other cuts, but in |
| popular choice for a solitaire ring. | | | | general they are based on the ones above. For |
| Oval | | | | example, the Square, Octagon and Emerald cuts |
| The Oval cut is elliptical, or egg shaped, when | | | | are all step cuts based on the Baguette cut. The |
| viewed from the top. The length is ideally double | | | | Heart cut is based the Brilliant Round and the Pear |
| the width of the gemstone, although this can vary | | | | is a hybrid cut combining the best of the Oval and |
| depending on the proportions of the rough gem. | | | | the Marquise. |