The Top Three Reasons Why Diamond Cut Matters

When shopping for engagement rings, you may hear that you need to learn the “4 Cs.” The 4Cs refer to a diamond’s carat weight, color, clarity, and cut. It’s true that all of these factors play a part in diamond quality, but they are not all created equal.
Diamond cut plays a more significant role than most people realize. Here are three of the top reasons why cut is the most important “C.”
Reason #1- Cut determines beauty
The top reason why you should pay attention to a diamond’s cut is that the cut directly relates to beauty. It’s also the only factor of the 4 Cs that is not determined by nature.
Consider this: Even a flawless, colorless diamond will not sparkle well if it isn’t cut properly. For example, if a diamond is cut too shallow, light will escape through the bottom (the pavilion) rather than reflecting back through the top. On the other hand, if a diamond is cut too deep, light can escape through the sides.
As you can see, if you want a diamond that sparkles and effectively plays with light, you need to consider diamond cut. Ignoring cut could cause you to end up with a diamond that looks good on paper, but lacks the beauty you were hoping for.
Reason #2- Cut can make a diamond appear smaller or larger
Next, the cut of a diamond also impacts how large your diamond will appear. Diamonds are sold by weight, but different carat weights can appear very different depending on the diamond’s cut.
For example, if you place two one-carat round diamonds side by side, you may notice that one appears visibly larger than the other. This size difference is possible because the diameter of one diamond may very well be larger than the other, despite the fact that they both weigh one carat.
It’s interesting to note, however, that a diamond’s brilliance can also make it appear larger. So, if two diamonds with the same diameters are side by side, the one that sparkles more will appear larger. Furthermore, after decades of comparing diamonds, we’ve found that it’s really a diamond’s sparkle that travels across a room, rather than its size.
Reason #3- Cut directly impacts a diamond’s value
Lastly, a diamond’s cut directly impacts its value. That means that a diamond that is cut to ideal proportions will demand higher prices than a comparable diamond cut to less-than-ideal standards.
The best-cut diamonds in the world are the most valuable because they take more time and skill to cut. And while most cutters are paid by carat weight, diamond cutters who aim for perfect proportions are willing to sacrifice rough for beauty. This makes ideal cut diamonds more expensive to cut — but the end result is so worth it!
Stop into Koser Jewelers!
At Koser, our jewelry professionals are diamond experts. They would love to show you how important a diamond’s cut truly is (trust us, seeing is believing)!
While you’re here, you can check out our Hearts on Fire collection, which features the world’s most perfectly cut diamonds. We look forward to seeing you soon!