The Round Brilliant Cut Diamond is the best selling Diamond on the market. It has been for almost 100 years.
The main reason why it's been so popular is because the Brilliant Cut gives off more Brilliance and Sparkle than any other Cut of Diamond. It makes it the number one choice for Engagement Rings or Solitaires!
It truly is Brilliant!
The Modern Brilliant Cut didn't get that way over night though, it actually took over 500 years to develop.
The Evolution and History of the Brilliant Cut was a Slow and Gradual process. It started with the Point Cut.
The Point Cut (pictured below) was the very first Cut of Diamond. It looked like a weapon. I can't even imagine wearing that Cut in a Ring. All I can think about is Ralphie from A Christmas Story, "You'll Poke Your Eye Out!" lol
The Point Cut Evolved into the Table Cut, and then the Single Cut Diamond (Which is still used today). The Mazarin Cut came along after that, followed by the Old-Mine Cut and Old European Cut (all pictured below). It's interesting to see the different Cutting Styles that used to exist. As you see, the Brilliant Cut was years in the making, but in the end, it definitely emerged as the Winner!
See the Evolution through the images that follow.
The Brilliant Cut (also called the Standard Cut), is made up of 58 Facets all together. 33 Facets on the Crown (Top of the Diamond), and 25 Facets on the Pavilion (Base of the Diamond).
Here's a Chart showing the 58 Facets of the Brilliant Cut Diamond:
As a side note, if there is no Culet, then there will only be 24 Facets on the Pavilion. The Culet is the bottom Facet at the base of the Pavilion. That Culet is optional when cutting. Check your Certificate to see if you have a Culet or not (I prefer a Small Culet). Diamonds that have NO Culet can Chip or Break easily!
The Crown contains these 33 Facets:
- 1 - Table
- 8 - Bezel Facets
| - 8 - Star Facets
- 16 Upper Girdle Facets
|
The Pavilion contains these 25 Facets:
- 16 - Lower Girdle Facets
- 8 - Pavilion Main Facets
| |
It's important to note that the Girdle (which is the thin line that separates the Crown from the Pavilion), can also be Faceted. If the Girdle is Faceted, those Facets are just cosmetic! They don't add to the Facet count.
The Proportions, Angles and Facets of a Brilliant Cut Diamond allow it to produce great Brilliance and Sparkle. That Beauty started a chain reaction in the Fancy Cut market (all the other Cuts of Diamonds like the Marquise Cut, Princess Cut, and Pear Cut). Diamond Cutters (Lapidarists) began to Cut all the Fancy Cuts as "Modified Brilliant Cuts" to give them more Sparkle. It worked! They've been popular ever since.
Sparkle as they may, these Fancy Cuts are no match for the Round.
It's not just the Sparkle that makes the Round Brilliant Cut so great either. It's also their Smooth, Clean, Elegant Curves (they have no Sharp Points). Rounds also look good in just about any type of Mounting. They're Classic, Simple, and will never go out of Style.
All that combined with Stunning Beauty makes the Brilliant Cut the best Cut in the World!
Speaking of the best...
Marcel Tolkowsky took the Brilliant Cut one step further. In 1919 he created the Ideal Cut Diamond! By calculating the best Mathematical Proportions and Angles, he maximized how light reacts with the Diamond and the results are breathtaking. The Ideal Cut is a combination of the greatest amount of Brilliance (White Light) and the greatest amount of Fire (Colored Light) any Diamond can get. Some people consider his formula the Ultimate Formula and strive for these Ideal Cut Standards!
But as great as the Ideal Cut is, opinion still varies about it. Who's Ideal Standards are we talking about? Many believe that it comes down to preference. Some like more flashes of White Light or Sparkle Effects, called Scintillation, in their Diamond. Others like more Color. The jury is still out.
When it comes to Ideal Cut Diamonds vs Brilliant Cut Diamonds, it's anybody's game. Crown Height, Diamond Depth and Table Width are always a much debated topic. One where most will say "No Cut is Perfect!"
Will the Brilliant Cut continue to dominate? Will the Ideal Cut take over?
Who knows? We'll just have to wait and see.
50 years down the road this may all change.
The Brilliant Cut could Evolve again.
Copyright © 02-06-2010 Jewelry-Secrets.com
