Cut

The way a diamond is cut determines how the stone will display light. Cut is the critical factor contributing to the brilliance and fire of a diamond, in addition to the diamond’s final appearance in the setting. A brilliant-cut or fancy-shaped diamond usually boasts 58 reflective surfaces known as facets. Each of these facets -- no matter how large or how small -- has an effect on the overall brilliance of the diamond. If a diamond is cut to correct proportions, light is refracted off each

facet in the pavilion of the stone and eventually dispersed in a prismatic effect through its crown. The light is also reflected off the surface of the facets, producing brilliant flashes of white light. If, however, a diamond is not cut deeply enough, light can escape from the stone’s pavilion without any reflection. Similarly, if the stone is cut too deeply, light escapes from the opposite side of the pavilion. If either of these two situations is present, the stone may look dull and its color will not be accurately displayed.