{"id":3816,"date":"2011-11-14T12:54:16","date_gmt":"2011-11-14T17:54:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/?p=3816"},"modified":"2015-05-24T11:51:30","modified_gmt":"2015-05-24T15:51:30","slug":"diamond-symmetry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/diamond-symmetry\/","title":{"rendered":"DIAMOND SYMMETRY"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Diamond<\/div>\n

Diamond Symmetry plays a huge role in the Beauty, Sparkle and Brilliance a Diamond gives off.<\/p>\n

\nThe more Symmetrical a Diamond is, the better it will look and the better it will react with light<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nSince the Round Brilliant Cut Diamond is the main Diamond of choice, that’s the Shape we’ll concentrate on for this post.<\/p>\n

The first clue to Symmetry is going to be the actual Shape or Outline<\/strong> of the stone. Is it Round? Roundish? Ovalish? Most Diamonds are not Cut perfectly Round. This is best demonstrated on any GIA Diamond Report (Certificate<\/strong>). You’ll see under Measurements<\/strong> something like this: 6.53 – 6.55 x 3.96 mm. (I’m using a 1.00 Carat Diamond for this example).<\/p>\n

\nThe first 2 numbers in the Measurements refer to the Diameter of the Diamond, measured from one side of the Girdle to the opposite side of the Girdle in 2 different spots. Usually Horizontally and Vertically<\/strong>. The third number is the actual Depth of the Diamond from the top of the Crown <\/strong>to the bottom of the Pavilion<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nThe first 2 numbers will show you how Round your Round Diamond really is. A perfectly Round stone would be 6.5 – 6.5. That would show it’s the same measurements all the way around the stone. This of course, almost never happens. You’ll see it off by tenths of a millimeter in many cases.<\/p>\n

Some Diamonds get really extreme in how much they vary. Many are off slightly like 6.55 – 6.65 or even 6.55 – 6.78. That would leave the stone more Roval (Round and Oval<\/strong>) or even Oval in Shape.<\/p>\n

If the stone is off by a lot, you may want to reconsider purchasing it.<\/p>\n

\nAn example of an Out of Round Diamond is below…<\/p>\n

\n\"Out<\/p>\n

\nTo better understand Symmetry<\/strong>, let’s take a look at the Facets of a Diamond<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\n\"Diamond<\/p>\n

\n\"Diamond<\/p>\n

\n\"Diamond<\/p>\n

\n\"Diamond<\/p>\n

\n\"Diamond<\/p>\n

\n\"Diamond<\/p>\n

\n\"Diamond<\/p>\n

\n\"Diamond<\/p>\n

\nMost Diamond Charts or Diagrams picture Diamonds looking this way. But these are just Diagrams <\/strong>and not the actual Diamonds or Facets<\/strong> that your Diamond may have.<\/p>\n

In reality, many Diamonds actually look like this…<\/p>\n

\n\"Non<\/p>\n

Those Diamonds all have the same amount of Facets. They all have the right amount of Crown Facets and Pavilion Facets, and they may even have them in the correct spots, but the Facets aren’t properly proportioned<\/strong>. They are Distorted and Skewed. Cutting Perfect Diamonds is a science and most Diamonds are not Cut perfectly all due to the amount of Inclusions in the stone, the Cleavage Lines, and the amount of Parent Rock available to the cutter.<\/p>\n

\nThe result is often the Diamond Symmetry being sacrificed<\/strong>. A fatter Facet here, a chopped off edge there, an uneven Girdle, an off-center Culet…<\/p>\n

Many things affect the Symmetry of a Diamond… <\/h2>\n

\nCrown Angles, Table Sizes. Symmetry in the best Cut Diamonds should be identical all the way around. Each Star Facet should be the exact Shape, Size and Length as another Star Facet. Same with the Upper Girdle Facets and Bezel Facets. They should, in a perfect world, all be the same.<\/p>\n

If you break apart a Brilliant Cut Diamond into pie shaped pieces<\/strong>, you should see eight identical and symmetrically perfect sections like such…<\/p>\n

\n\"Equal<\/p>\n

\nThis is Symmetry at its best<\/strong>. This kind of Symmetry leads us to see those lovely Hearts and Arrows that everyone is always talking about.<\/p>\n

Hearts and Arrows<\/h2>\n

\n\"Hearts<\/p>\n

\nAs seen in a real Diamond image below of Arrows… (because we’re only seeing the Top View<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

\n\"True<\/a><\/p>\n

\nNote that even in a True Hearts and Arrows AGS Certified Diamond, the arrows don’t photograph perfect!<\/strong> :)<\/p>\n

\nHearts and Arrows (also known as Super-Ideal Cuts<\/strong>) are the combination of a Diamond having both an Excellent Cut Grade<\/strong>, but an Excellent Symmetry Grade<\/strong> and Polish Grade<\/strong> as well.<\/p>\n

\n\"Super<\/p>\n

\nJewelry Stores often skimp and simplify Symmetry down to 2 things:<\/strong><\/p>\n