Cut is King

All of the four C's have an effect on the beauty of a diamond, but the cut is the most important. The cut (number of facets, proportions, symmetry, etc.) determines a diamond’s brilliance. When light enters the top of the diamond, it reflects and refracts within the diamond. How light is directed through a diamond is determined by the number of facets and the placement of those facets in relationship to each other. Theoretically, if a diamond is cut perfectly, 100% of the light that enters the diamond should reflect off of the back and return through the top of the diamond as brilliance. If a diamond is cut poorly, much of the light will escape out the bottom of the diamond.

An Ideal Cut diamond is a 58 facet round diamond that has been cut to maximize brilliance. A very small percentage of diamonds are cut to ideal proportions. Cutters must charge more per carat when cutting for maximum brilliance, because more of the rough crystal must be cut away to achieve the ideal cut. This is why most mass-market diamond cutters stray from the ideal proportions. The beauty of the diamond is not as important to them as selling a high carat weight at a very low price.

Like the Ideal Cut, the new STAR 129 cut is designed to maximize brilliance. Ever since Marcel Tolkowsky discovered the Ideal Cut in 1919, many have tried (and failed) to develop a more brilliant diamond. The patented STAR 129 cut has finally achieved that goal.