Worths Diamonds
Cut and Light
Knowledge Center > Art of the Cut
Diamonds and Light
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Brilliance, or Life is the total of all light returned to the eye by both surface and internal reflections. The surface reflection depends on the symmetry and the polish of the crown facets. The internal part of brilliance depends primarily on the precision of the symmetry, the angles and the cut. |
Fire or Dispersion, is the colour flashes caused by the spreading and separating of white light into its spectral colours as it exits the diamond through the crown facets. Its quality depends primarily on the crown angle |
Scintillation is the multiple and alternating reflections of light flashes (dancing sparkles) from the polished diamond, when there is relative movement between the observer and the light source or the diamond. It’s the combination of surface reflection, fire (dispersion) and internal brilliance. |
When the Ideal Diamond is cut with perfect symmetry, it has a symmetrical octagonal table and all facets are perfectly shaped and arranged. The crown facets are properly aligned with the pavilion facets and all are carefully polished to the highest lustre.
When viewed through a symmetry scope, which isolates the light to just one colour, the bright symmetrical image is composed of hearts and arrows: a perfect ring of them, which is absolutely stunning
Depending on the rough diamond’s shape, cutters can cut a ‘shallow’ or ‘deep’ stone. (as pictured above). The purple outlines represent the ‘Ideal’ proportions. The purple areas indicate where the average cutter is most likely to retain extra weight. Increasing the girdle thickness is another way in which to increase the finished weight.