Proper Dimensions for the Proper Cut….. Please Help!!

Hello All,

I'm getting very close to finally making my purchase, the only part that I’m still worried about is finding a proper cut through an online vendor. I know that cut is the most important C and i want to make sure that the diamond that i purchase will have that spectacular sparkle. The part that worries me is that without actually seeing the stone in person, all i have to go by is the dimensions provided by the dealer. Is there a true guide for proper cut dimensions? What should i be looking for in the following categories to assure that I’m getting something great:

Depth:

Table:

Crown angle:

Pavilion angle:

Girdle:

Polish and symmetry:

These are the only criteria for cut that I’m aware of. Are there other factors that i should be looking for?

Thank you in advance for all your help and insight!!!

Here are some numbers which have proved useful for some PSers to find a well cut stone, you can use these as a guide but remember some combos outside these ranges can work well too, use the HCA to see which have potential.

depth - 60 - 62% - although my personal preference is to allow up to 62.4%
table - 54- 57%
crown angle - 34- 35 degrees
pavilion angle - 40.6- 41 degrees
girdle - avoid extremes, look for thin to slightly thick, thin to medium etc
polish and symmetry - very good and above

note - with crown and pavilion angles at the shallower ends ( CA 34- PA 40.6) and steeper ( CA 35- PA 41) check to make sure these angles complement in that particular diamond - eyeballs, Idealscope, trusted vendor input - check as appropriate!

As the above implies, configurations depend on each other.  A little give here can still work with a little take there.

With that said, here's a "Cliff's Notes" for staying near Tolkowsky/ideal angles with GIA reports (their numbers are rounded):  A crown angle of 34.0, 34.5 or 35.0 is usually safe with a 40.8 pavilion angle.  If pavilion angle = 40.6 lean toward a 34.5-35.0 crown.  If pavilion angle = 41 lean toward a 34.0-34.5 crown.

GIA "EX" in cut is great at its heart, but it ranges a bit wider than some people prefer, particularly in deep combinations (pavilion > 41 with crown > 35).

Nothing is more sacred as the bond between horse and rider...no other creature can ever become so emotionally close to a human as a horse. When a horse dies, the memory lives on because an enormous part of his owner's heart, soul, very existence dies also...but that can never be laid to rest, it is not meant to be...
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Thank you for all the info!!

Just one follow up question in regards to the girdle, can you help me clarify some of the abbreviations I see online, ie: m-stk, tn-m, med-thk fac, m-tk, etc...

What do these abbreviations stand for and which ones should i avoid? It may be a dumb question, but i don't want to take any chances in misreading the classification.

Ira (Ruffles have Ridges) Z.
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If you're looking for diamond shopping tips...this (along with this update) might do the trick!

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