Cutters - under-appreciated?

[OoohShiny]

I was thinking about this the other day and it came to mind again today when I was looking for some ECs, only to discover that JA has seemingly a lot more really nicely-cut ECs than they've had in recent times!

We talk a lot about vendors and their great stones and policies that go towards making them PS-recommended, we have our own resident cutters (such as Yoram and the CBI team in Antwerp), and we have our own resident stone designers (such as Rhino and Karl and the CBI team (and others that I'm sure I'm missing!)), but what about those cutters who are cutting the amazing stones that we see on the larger diamond sales sites, who get no recognition and (in an ideal world) should get more recognition for their excellent work?

I know some people like to work behind the scenes and not be a 'known face', and I completely empathise with that standpoint, but it does seem a little unfair if there are a few decent cutters who are regularly producing amazing work that is sort of getting lost within the large glut of mediocre-cut stones that seem to dominate the markets, who are perhaps only getting 'standard rates' of pay (based on carat/weight retention?) rather than pay based on the performance of their stones.

If they had the contacts they could set up their own boutique cutting practice and sell direct or be commissioned to produce great rocks, but perhaps these people don't appreciate just how good their own work is or are too shy to shout about it? Or perhaps they are just too constricted by not having the finances to go it alone and buy rough to cut, or they have to work to the usual weight-retention methods day-to-day to not get sacked?


I'm not sure I really have a conclusion to this post but I thought it was worth at least mentioning, to see if anyone else thinks like me

 

[Karl_K]

Yes, but many of them like it that way.
They do not want the work of dealing directly with the public.

 

[OoohShiny]

They do not want the work of dealing directly with the public.

I can fully appreciate that

 

[Lorelei]

I think as Karl says ( and he would know such things) that that's how many of them like it.

JA have had some smashing EC's recently and I know many of us have been appreciating the beauty of these stones and that's praise indeed even if the cutters never see our enjoyment of their skill and talent. And then to have their work be presented to someone as a gift or promise of eternal love....*sniff*....is beautiful.

 

[Lorelei]

[QUOTE="OoohShiny, post: 4330603, member: 77124"


I'm not sure I really have a conclusion to this post but I thought it was worth at least mentioning, to see if anyone else thinks like me [/QUOTE]

That doesn't matter Oosh, I think many of us enjoy your musings and it is interesting.

 

[OoohShiny]

I'm not sure I really have a conclusion to this post but I thought it was worth at least mentioning, to see if anyone else thinks like me

That doesn't matter Oosh, I think many of us enjoy your musings and it is interesting.

You are too kind

 

[Rockdiamond]

Some of the best cutters we know are very secretive.
It's a tough, and dirty job- I agree with Karl that most would not want to deal with consumers.
In some ways, the sorts of personality traits a great cutter needs to have don't necessarily mesh with customer service.

As an aisde, I've gotten in trouble here so many times when the cut of stones is blamed on "greedy diamond cutters"
Sure, some are- but the best ones are not.

 

[metall]

This is an interesting thread... I wonder how many diamond cutters are actually secret lurkers on forums like this. I wonder if it is be a confidence boost to see a stone you've cut called out on PS as a great cut. Or to "know" someone loves something that you've to created.

 

[bmfang]

When I see MRB’s (online and in person) that have been cut to the correct proportions (and verified with grading reports), I say a silent thank you for the cutters who make it possible.

When I see MRB’s that are waaay too steep/deep, after I get over the initial “that cutter is cheating the stone” reaction, I realise that they are working in a tough business. And stones like them do help to pay the bills when they are sold to consumers who don’t know any better. Hopefully, the more consumers who are educated and begin to demand better cut diamonds (while at the same time being willing to pay a little bit more for a more beautiful stone), that will impact on cutters beginning to cut more stones for beauty rather than weight.

Either way, I know their job is something that I wouldn’t be able to do. My hands are far too clumsy to finesse a stone so tiny to that level of perfection (and I’m more likely than not to drop a stone in the cutting, bruting, blocking and brillianteering phases and not be able to find it afterwards).

 

[Dancing Fire]

Yes, but many of them like it that way.
They do not want the work of dealing directly with the public.

IOW...We are a PITA!..

 

[Lorelei]

When I see MRB’s (online and in person) that have been cut to the correct proportions (and verified with grading reports), I say a silent thank you for the cutters who make it possible.

When I see MRB’s that are waaay too steep/deep, after I get over the initial “that cutter is cheating the stone” reaction, I realise that they are working in a tough business. And stones like them do help to pay the bills when they are sold to consumers who don’t know any better. Hopefully, the more consumers who are educated and begin to demand better cut diamonds (while at the same time being willing to pay a little bit more for a more beautiful stone), that will impact on cutters beginning to cut more stones for beauty rather than weight.

Either way, I know their job is something that I wouldn’t be able to do. My hands are far too clumsy to finesse a stone so tiny to that level of perfection (and I’m more likely than not to drop a stone in the cutting, bruting, blocking and brillianteering phases and not be able to find it afterwards).

Well said. They produce what sells and that's usually the cut for weight stones and that you should hit certain magic weights when buying, these ideas have been sold for so many years now, same as colourless and VVS/ VS are what to buy.

I think things are changing due to the explosion of the internet and the wealth of knowledge that's available, plus since I've been here, sellers of Superideals have now been in business for a long time and they've used that time well not only to consistently produce beautiful stones, but also to build trust and a superb reputation.

I think consumers have a lot more education than in days of old where all they knew was they wanted a magic weighted, colourless, high clarity diamond and once they learned the cut basics, some did a 180 and decided for themselves that cut quality mattered and it was something they wanted as soon as they realised what a difference it made.

But now I think consumers are beginning from a completely different place to the earlier ones, many are clued up before they buy or even post here, whereas before we used to have to give Diamond 101 to many new posters, but a lot are now on Diamond Degrees so to speak and it's just a case of checking what they know out here before pulling the trigger on one of many fine diamonds they're considering.

Like with anything, change takes time and not to forget you don't always need the top cut Super to have a beautiful stone.