The skill with which a diamond is finished can greatly affect its value and quality. A well-cut diamond will dazzle with its beauty due to the way it interacts with natural light, giving off a brightness and colour that is extremely pleasing to the eye. This interaction is determined by the proportions and polish of a diamond, as these features maximise the potential optical effects created by a well-cut diamond.
These effects are known as brightness (reflections of white light), fire (flames of colour) and scintillation (areas of light and dark). The relative size, arrangement and contrast of these light and dark areas, caused by internal and external reflection, make up a diamond’s pattern. Ideally, this pattern should give a diamond a sharp, crisp appearance.
There are five grades of cut – excellent, very good, good, fair and poor. The higher the cut grade, the brighter the diamond. Harper Tait only uses cut diamonds that are graded excellent or very good. Download our guide to diamond cuts here for further information.
