Why Brilliant Round Cut Diamonds Are So Rare

Very few diamonds cut to ideal proportions

Before we get into the reasons for the common poorer cut qualities and why an ideally cut round brilliant cut diamond is so rare. So let me first take a look at the various factors we can use to measure the quality of a diamond.

Diamonds differ in their shape and the four common characteristics, also known as the “4Cs Of Diamonds”. 4Cs of Diamonds: the cut, the diamond clarity, the different color classes, and the carat weight.

Viewed with the 4Cs, the cut is the only feature that is determines by human action. This characteristic is very decisive whether a diamond shines with life and therefore with luminous intensity or whether it appears dull and lifeless. Of course, everyone would very much like to get a diamond for themselves that looks brilliant and fiery.

And if all rough diamonds have the potential to be turns into beautiful gemstones, why do diamond cutters grind and polish rough stones to shabby proportions? If you, as a reader, think harder about this content, doesn’t that seem somehow paradoxical to you? Because the diamond cutter himself would certainly not want to buy a diamond that looks lifeless and dark.

The Principles of Round Brilliant Cut and 

Diamonds are unique for their extraordinary ability to reflect and refract light. A well cut diamond also makes a stone look bigger than a poorly cut diamond of the same carat weight. It conceals its real color nuance, which is outshone by its brightness and hides its flaws of purity.

Did you know that an ideally cut diamond can reflect almost 100% of the light that enters it from above through table and crown facets? It reflects light is perceives by the viewer as sparkling, fire, and brilliance.

For example, if they cut a diamond at too shallow an angle, a certain fraction of the penetrating light will leave the stone through the pavilion walls locates at the bottom of the diamond. The same thing happens when a stone has been cut too deep. Part of the light penetrates the sidewalls of the diamond and reduces its luminous intensity, which it otherwise generates.

Both the lack of brilliance and the characteristic sparkle that arises from it does not get all the precise power that can be reflects into the eye of the beholder. It is the reason why poorly cut diamonds often look darker and have little life in them. The direct comparison of two differently cut diamonds makes this effect very clear.

Why Rough Diamonds aren’t cut to achieve a maximum light output

When we talk about the millions of dollars invested in sourcing raw diamonds in the rough. There is by no means much room for error in making profitable finished products of this nature. More specific, contrary to some beliefs, it is not human error for poorly cut diamonds that are responsible. Furthermore, there are certainly no short-sights decisions made by the diamond cutters on the polishing wheel.

Let me explain to you, the diamond business, like any other industry, is about making money. And of course, the rough diamonds cuts bases on conscious decisions. Before each grinding process, a rough diamond is careful analyzes and carefully planes for the optimal grinding process with the help of powerful computer systems.

When it comes to guidelines on how a rough stone is to be works, economic efficiency and profitability are two important criteria that almost always rank above the cut quality. After all, the price of a diamond is most clearly determines by its carat weight. And because of this, diamond cutters as well as retailers and online sellers are driven by strong financial incentives. They keep the weight of a rough diamond as much as possible at the expense of an inferior cut.

How a Diamond in the Rough is uses

To illustrate this, let’s assume that we have a raw crystal that has a diamond weight of 3.00 carats. Two 1.3 carat round diamonds with a “good” cut can be obtains from this raw material. The two diamonds have a total market value of a good $19,000.

However, it is also possible that the same rough diamond could be uses to create two ideally cut diamonds weighing approximately 1.00 carats and 0.90 carats. In contrast, these two diamonds can only be buy for a total of $1800. Although these two stones show better optical performance.

In addition to the higher market value than the first option represents, the “good” cut diamonds are cheaper to produce. As they require less time and less skilled personnel at the polishing table. Logically, what would be the option you would choose if you were the business owner?

Other factors to consider when grinding a Round Brilliant Cut diamond

Sometimes the decisions of the cutter are influences by imperfections in the material and the natural shape of the rough diamond. For example, the location of inclusions in the raw material can cause the diamond cutter to polish the diamond in a certain way.

The inclusions are eliminates with the special polishing. Such decisions are usual make with the help of high-tech scanners and visualization software. Ultimately, the focus is always on maximizing sales and total value at the expense of the cut quality.

If you want an engagement ring that is supposed to look beautiful and you want to stay within a certain budget. We recommendation is that you compromise on things like color class, purity, and carat weight. Don’t compromise on the quality of the cut, you will find that it helps to balance each of these 3 aspects.

However, I know people who purposely sacrifice the cut because they want to meet a minimum requirement for the carat weight. With a limited budget to keep, they only see the size of a diamond by degrading the other 3C’s round brilliant cut diamond qualities such as cut, color, and clarity.

I think that buying diamonds this way is not a good idea. However, the decision is ultimately in your hands. If you want to buy white round cut diamonds or round diamond engagement rings you can visit our online Gemistone Jewelers store at very cheap price with Free Shipping on your all orders!!