Diamond Cut Grading, Part 1

Why Learn Traditional Diamond Cut Grading Methods?

In 2005, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) released a new, modern method for evaluating diamond cuts. However, beginning gemologists should learn traditional diamond cut grading for two reasons.

• You’ll likely come across grading reports that utilize older methods. They’ve been used on thousands of reports that will be around for many years to come.
• Learning traditional diamond cut grading will show you how to evaluate cuts by eye. When you examine diamonds away from your shop, you’ll need something to fall back on.

The Ideal Cut (May Not be Ideal)

Of the Four Cs of gem grading, cut ranks as the most important for diamonds. The cut (or make) determines why one diamond features spectacular fountains of light, while another looks lifeless and dull. You’ll find volumes and volumes written about cut. That’s a shame. In truth, the principles involved are really quite simple, as are traditional diamond cut grading techniques.

The essential problem of evaluating the cut revolves around determining the ideal cut for a diamond. Today, most experts agree, within a small range, on what an ideal cut is. The…

Donald Clark, CSM IMG

Donald Clark, CSM founded the International Gem Society in 1998. Donald started in the gem and jewelry industry in 1976. He received his formal gemology training from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the American Society of Gemcutters (ASG). The letters “CSM” after his name stood for Certified Supreme Master Gemcutter, a designation of Wykoff’s ASG which has often been referred to as the doctorate of gem cutting. The American Society of Gemcutters only had 54 people reach this level. Along with dozens of articles for leading trade magazines, Donald authored the book Modern Faceting, the Easy Way.

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