{"id":8628,"date":"2022-12-13T06:00:52","date_gmt":"2022-12-13T11:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/?p=8628"},"modified":"2022-12-13T13:39:46","modified_gmt":"2022-12-13T18:39:46","slug":"do-your-diamond-facets-line-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/do-your-diamond-facets-line-up\/","title":{"rendered":"DO YOUR DIAMOND FACETS LINE UP?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Diamond<\/div>\n

“Now that’s cool!”<\/h2>\n

\nHave you ever studied your diamond under a microscope? <\/strong><\/p>\n

\nI mean, really studied it?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nA good portion of the public has looked at their diamond under 10x magnification<\/strong> (what diamonds are graded with) and have seen some flaws<\/strong> and inclusions<\/strong> inside their stone. <\/p>\n

\nMany people have compared these imperfections to a diamond plot<\/a> so they could better understand clarity<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

\nIt’s a pretty cool thing…<\/strong><\/p>\n

But that’s the point where most people stop<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The studying is over.<\/h2>\n

\nAnd it’s too bad too, because there are so many more things to look at…<\/p>\n

Like facets:<\/h2>\n

Facets are the smooth, flat, polished surfaces of a diamond. <\/p>\n

\nEvery cut, every shape, every angle, every side has facets to it.<\/p>\n

\nThe crown <\/strong> (top of the diamond) has 33 facets<\/strong> all together; 1 table, 8 bezel facets, 8 star facets and 16 upper girdle facets. The pavilion<\/strong> (base of the diamond) has 25 facets<\/strong>; 16 lower girdle facets, 8 pavilion facets and 1 culet. <\/p>\n

\nAll these facets together total 58 facets<\/strong> on a round brilliant cut diamond (the girdle can also be faceted).<\/p>\n

So now, take a look at the actual facets of a brilliant cut diamond<\/strong> below:<\/p>\n

\"Facets<\/p>\n

But here’s the real question…<\/h2>\n

\nHow do your facets line up?<\/strong><\/p>\n

How facets line up and connect together will tell you a lot about a diamond. It will show you whether a diamond has good symmetry<\/strong> or bad. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Symmetry???<\/h2>\n

Symmetry is often overlooked as not important by most customers<\/strong> (it’s not high on their priority list). <\/p>\n

\nBut symmetry plays a huge role in the beauty and brilliance<\/strong> of a diamond.<\/p>\n

Symmetry can turn an ideal cut<\/strong> (properly proportioned diamond) into a super-ideal cut.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Super ideal cuts:<\/h2>\n

\"DiamondA Super-Ideal Cut is a Diamond with Ideal Proportions<\/strong> AND<\/strong> Ideal Symmetry<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

\nLike the hearts and arrows<\/strong> diamond for example.<\/p>\n

Hearts and arrows (see image) is a symmetrical diamond that creates patterns<\/strong> in the stone when viewed through a special jeweler’s loupe<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\nHearts<\/strong> when viewed through the pavilion<\/strong> (bottom), and arrows<\/strong> when viewed through the crown<\/strong> (top).<\/p>\n

This is symmetry at its best.<\/h2>\n

Understanding symmetry doesn’t have to be difficult either. You can look at a diamond under a microscope<\/a> or 10x jeweler’s loupe<\/a> and see how symmetrical it is just by looking at the facets.<\/p>\n

Big clues:<\/h2>\n

Where the facets meet up can give you some pretty big clues:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nDo the facets align?<\/strong> Look at the table, is it out of proportion? Are the bezel facets<\/strong> different shapes? Star facets?<\/strong> Are there extra facets<\/strong> on the crown or pavilion? Is the culet off center?<\/strong> Is your diamond perfectly round? Does it have a flat edge<\/strong> (flat tire)? Is the girdle even or wavy? Is the girdle parallel with the table? <\/p>\n

\nYou see, there are so many things that can affect symmetry.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The image below has examples of symmetry and facets that are out of proportion, misaligned or uneven.<\/p>\n

\"Diamond<\/p>\n

Check the certificate:<\/h2>\n

\nDiamond symmetry is listed on most diamond reports (assuming it’s certified – GIA is the best) under the FINISH<\/strong> heading. GIA (the Gemological Institute of America) grades symmetry with 5 different ratings<\/strong>: <\/p>\n