Cut refers to the cutting of the diamond; the most crucial stage in the revelation of its polished brilliance, fire and scintillation. Extremely specific parameters of angle and dimension are applied, with strict attention to the polished finish. Poorly polished facets do not reflect light or scintillate well.  Inaccuracy in facet dimensions and angles diminishes a diamond’s internal light performance or refraction – white light return and coloured light flashes or ‘fire’.  Look for a diamond with at least Very Good cut grade to maximise aspects of beauty, light, reflection, scintillation, contrast and pattern as well as fire. A well-cut diamond will reflect light within itself, from one mirror-like facet to another. If a diamond is cut too deep or too shallow light will be lost through the side or bottom. This reduces its brilliance and value. A well-cut diamond provides a balance between brilliance, fire and scintillation. Brilliance is the white light reflected from the internal and external surfaces of the diamond. 

Dispersion, or ‘fire’ as it is more commonly known, are the flashes of color that come from the diamond. Scintillation is the sparkle or flashes of light you see as the diamond moves. The cut of a diamond can also affect its visual size. Two diamonds with the same carat weight can appear to be different sizes depending on the shallowness or shape of their cut. Advancing technology continues to offer a larger variety of shapes and cuts but the most familiar are the princess, oval, square, marquise, pear, radiant, emerald and cushion-shaped cuts. Cuts have evolved through the ages according to tastes. The big, broad, flashes of fire emitted by the ‘Classic Old European’ cut of yesteryear have been displaced by the highly scintillating modern round brilliant that dominates today’s tastes.