Jewelers have benefited from new technology as much as any other profession and quite possibly even more. To cut a diamond, one must endeavor to split, cut, and shape the hardest naturally-occurring substance currently known. One must also be able to not only produce an attractive, valuable end result, but must work with a precision demanded by the fact that even the smallest chips of diamond can bring high prices. This requires the best tools, techniques and a genuine appreciation for the beauty of diamonds. The diamond in the ring on your finger and the gems that grace your necklaces were likely once much heavier, as much as 50% so! There is no way that jewelers can cut a diamond without losing some of its initial weight. Because of the way cutting techniques work, it is often 50% or more of the total weight that is lost. Of course, those parts of the diamond that are flaked away are also valuable in their own right, so the loss is far less than it would be otherwise.
A diamond is cut based on its natural structure when it is unearthed. Most diamonds are favorable to the round brilliant cut and, for that reason, the round brilliant cut is one of the most widely-seen diamond shapes on the market. While a jeweler’s eye may have once been the principal means of determining how the process of cutting was to be undertaken, today’s jewelers use sophisticated computer imaging to get a comprehensive knowledge of the diamond’s structure before they begin cutting. In this way, they’re able to maximize the use of the gem and to find the cut which is most flattering to the individual diamond.
The basic techniques of cutting are the same from jeweler to jeweler. Using a variety of techniques and tools, even using other diamonds themselves, they cut, saw or grind away the individual facets for the desired cut, rotating the gem as they go, and eventually polish the diamond to its maximum possible luster. Where diamonds are concerned, the friction generated because of their incredible hardness makes it necessary to hold them in place with mechanical devices. Most other gems are simply held by hand. Once the gem is cut, it’s ready to be set.
Some jewelers, however, are so innovative with their cutting techniques that they invent their own, distinctive, cuts. These cuts are considered proprietary and, thus, they can be and frequently are patented. Some cuts are only available from specific jewelers. These cuts sometimes carry the name of the inventor but, most often, they carry a name that invokes royalty, wealth or luxury, part of the marketing tradition of diamonds.
The many different cuts present benefits to a much wider audience than jewelers. The cut can be particularly flattering to a person’s hand, to their aesthetic sense or to their sense of romance. Most everyone has a specific idea of what a diamond looks like. If one were to venture into any jeweler’s store, they would likely find that they had one or another specific cut in mind. This can, of course, guide one’s heart when choosing something as significant as a wedding or engagement ring.
The cut also determines which features of the diamond will be shown to the greatest extent. Some cuts emphasize the luster of the diamond and some the fire. Diamond cutting technology has advanced so much since the 20th century that many antique gems are being recut with modern techniques. For gems which aren’t given to displaying their full potential beauty to the world because of a lacking cut, this is a great way to turn a serviceable diamond piece into a truly eye-catching work of art.
Where cuts are concerned, celebrities are always a good gauge of what may work for a given individual. Catherine Zeta-Jones, for instance, has a propensity to choose classic styles and timeless elegance in all her fashions. Her husband Michael Douglas, a refined individual himself, presented her with a 10 carat marquise cut diamond. The ring is an antique, and the $2 million price tag is likely far beyond the means of most individuals, but it shows how those who prefer classic elegance may wish to extend those choices to their diamond’s cut.
Toni Braxton, on the other hand, is known for being very much on the cutting edge of fashion. Her ring, presented to her by her drummer, was of his own design and featured both oval and heart-shaped diamonds in its designs. These cuts, obviously, depend on the most advanced technology to render to great effect.
Whatever cuts one may see when browsing diamonds or simply looking at examples worn by celebrities, the technology currently employed to make those designs is truly on the cutting-edge!
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