Imagine for a moment that you were taking a stroll along a river in South Africa or you happened to volunteer to work in an open-pit diamond mine. Would you be able to tell the difference between rough diamonds cut and similar minerals such as quartz? Unless you already possessed a significant amount of experience, this would be nearly impossible.

This arises from the fact that we are accustomed to viewing diamonds in all of their glory after they have been graded, cut and polished. However, the notion of a “perfect” cut is actually a rather new concept. Although cut diamonds can be traced as far back as 14th-century India, it was not until the latter half of the 18th century that truly polished diamonds became available to nobility and aristocrats.

How can these very same diamonds cut be transformed from rough (and often dull) stones into the brilliant examples that we have known and come to love? Let us examine this process in more detail.

An Eye for the Unique

All diamonds emerge from the bowels of the earth in a rough form. One of the first steps involves evaluating the stone in question. Two questions need to be answered:

• What inherent flaws are present?
• How can the stone itself be cut in order to maximise the carat weight of the end product?

This obviously takes an extremely skilled eye and there are many instances when more than one finished diamond can emerge from a single rough stone. In these modern times, three-dimensional imaging and similar techniques can be employed. This process is often referred to as “cleaving”.

Cutting the Diamond

Assuming that the rough shape has been determined, it is now necessary to refine its dimensions. The stone will first be mounted to a tool with the use of a wax or similarly strong adhesive. This allows the artisan to easily manipulate the diamond while viewing the cutting process. Although some stones diamonds are shaped with lasers, many methods involve the use of a circular disk coated with an abrasive dust and a lubricant (to reduce the temperatures resulting from friction).

Of course, the exact grinding process will depend upon the desired shape. Some examples include (but are not limited to):

• Princess
• Round brilliant
• Cushion
• Pear
• Oval
• Marquis

The professional will constantly monitor the cutting process in order to ensure that all facets are equal in terms of size and appearance. This is also the best way to bring out the most impressive qualities of the stone itself. Take a look at this A CUT ABOVE 1 carat diamond in order to appreciate the final result.

It takes years of experience to become a certified diamond cutter. After all, there is little room for error and even a small mistake could completely destroy a high-quality stone. Thankfully, the online diamond community now provides you with numerous opportunities to purchase a truly stunning diamond within minutes.