Why the most traditional diamond cuts continue to be very popular

The cut of a diamond is not the same as its shape. While the shape refers to the one the diamond resembles – such as heart, pear, oval, or round – the cut refers to the facets cut into a diamond and the way those facets catch and reflect light to give a diamond its characteristic sparkle.

The cut of a diamond is largely a matter of personal preference. However, the quality of the cutter's execution is vital. A poor cut will mar the brilliance of the stone and affect its value.

How a diamond is cut depends largely on the original shape of the unpolished stone and how maximum value can be extracted from it. If, for instance, the rough diamond is eight-sided, two stones with a Round Brilliant cut could be cut from one crystal.

The most popular standard diamond cuts are:

Round Brilliant cut (58 facets)

Emerald cut (step cut)

Asscher cut (72-74 facets)

Cushion cut (approximately 60 facets)

Radiant cut (70 facets)

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