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Many people confuse cut with the shape of a diamond. Diamonds are cut into a number of shapes, depending on the nature of the rough stone. The most popular are round, marquise, oval, pear, heart and emerald, and the choice is largely a matter of personal preference. Whatever the shape, however, a well-cut diamond is the work of a master diamond cutter. When cut to good proportions, the diamond is better able to handle light, creating more scintillation, more sparkle. And that's a great reflection on you.
A well-cut diamond is one that's well proportioned, regardless of its shape. The make of a diamond significantly impacts its overall appearance and true beauty. The more masterfully the cutter plans, creates and polishes the facets from the rough crystal, the better a diamond will refract (or bounce back) light. This refraction produces the breathtaking fire and dazzling sparkle diamonds are treasured for. |
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Some jewelers or retail lists provide percentages or sizes that describe the depth and the table (top facet) of a stone - particularly if the diamond is a brilliant round. Still, other jewelers may ignore the make of a diamond altogether when making a sale. Some retailers simply assure you they have only fine makes and leave it at that.
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Unfortunately, there are no internationally recognized grades for make, as there are for color and clarity. In fact, within the diamond trade, you will find many different opinions when it comes to the "most desired" proportions or percentages. However, there's no disputing the fact that the make of a stone impacts the price. Some jewelers sell very poor makes of diamonds everyday under the guise of bargains.
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While the "make" of a diamond is difficult to put into words, it's perhaps the most important aspect of a stone. Just remember when you compare two stones of the same size and grade — if you can't compare their makes, you can't determine which is the best deal. Buy where you feel confident. |
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