Pricescope
JamesAllen.com

Diamond Tutorial Crown and Pavilion Angles
Basic 4C's
Introduction
Grading Report
Carat Weight
Cut
Clarity
Color
Fancy Shapes
What to buy?
Advanced Info
Tolkowsky Ideal Cut
Crown and Pavilion
Holloway Cut Adviser
AGS Ideal Cut
Firescope & Ideal-Scope
Hearts and Arrows
Table Size
Fish-eye
60:60
Spread
Girdle Thickness
Culet
Symmetry
Polish
Fluorescence
Proportion Scanners
Brilliance, Fire and Scintillation
Glare
Pricing & Lab's
Treatments & Synthetics
Investment
AGA Cut Charts
Round Brilliant
Princess
Emerald & Radiant
Marquise, Pear, Oval, Heart
Glossary
References
Disclaimer
Further Reading
Diamond Prices
Engagement rings
In 1992 I discovered an inverse relationship between a diamond's top and bottom facet angles which gives diamond cutters new freedom to retain more weight out of the rough diamond, and cut a beautiful gem. The shallow stone on the left has more light return. The steeper stone on the right has more fire. I call them BIC - Brilliant Ideal Cut and FIC – Firey Ideal Cut.
 
The overlain profiles show how similar the light paths are, even though the angles vary considerably.
 
This is common sense; but common sense is not common. Many labs use grading systems with minimum & maximum crown and pavilion angles that penalizes cutters who produce BIC's and FIC's. The American Gem Society Lab was first to adopt this 'inverse proportion' approach. GIA is likely to follow soon.
 
If you know a diamonds proportions, you can use HCA to check if it can be ideal.
 


 
Discuss on the Forum
Holloway Cut Adviser »




The crown (top) angle on the orange FIC profile is 10 degrees steeper but the pavilion (bottom) is 2 degree shallower than the blue BIC stone - the variations compensate for each other. The light rays travel on similar paths.
  

Pricescope - Knowledge - Diamond Prices - Diamond Forum - Tools - Resourses - Jewelers - Wedding - About
© 2000-2008 Pricescope. Terms of Use