Diamond Cutting

[diamondsrockmyworld]

This may be a silly question, but does a ring cut by an less experienced cutter wind up the ones grades as good or fair?

And the GIA XXX or AGS 000 - are they cut by masters cutters?

How does it work that one stone winds up is fair, good or excellent?

Thanks,

D

 

[stone-cold11]

By the proportion which defines light performance.

If it is cut to the proportion that GIA decreed as the Ex cut, it will get an Ex cut grade regardless if it is cut by a master cutter or apprentice. AGS is stricter for it's AGS0 cut grade, using performance based simulation, but same thing, if it gets the result it gets the grade.

 

[diamondsrockmyworld]

I understand that, but how do stones wind up either cut to or not cut to ideal proportions?? Is the precision from the talent of the cutter or the tools he/she uses?

 

[stone-cold11]

Talent, skill and equipment.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 8/27/2009 1:54:45 PM
Author: diamondsrockmyworld
I understand that, but how do stones wind up either cut to or not cut to ideal proportions?? Is the precision from the talent of the cutter or the tools he/she uses?

Many different factors at play here. Often weight retention is the aim to increase profits, thats why you see so many diamonds of lower cut grades which are cut with saving as much carat weight as possible in mind. As for the crafting process itself, sometimes diamonds which aren't cut to the best proportions can actually be a sign of a talented cutter who can ' tweak' a stone to bring out some beauty yet still retain maximum weight. For example by using symmetry variations they can maximize weight and also in avoiding inclusions to perhaps get a better clarity grade, these can be the signs of a skilled cutter. With the top cut diamonds you do want a talented and experienced cutter especially with some of the h&a brands, the cutter needs to stop apparently and evaluate their work more often than just cutting to commercial cut quality as well, some of these cutters are extremely talented artisans. Concerning tools, I will let one of the experts advise on this whom has actual experience to comment as it is out of consumer range, however good tools are important in any circumstance as we know, you need the expert to use them efficiently.

Hopefully one of the cutters here will post and give you some expert insights on the process.

As to the cut grades, fair, good, excellent and so on this depends on whom is grading such a stone, some vendors use these terms to grade their diamonds according to their standards. GIA and AGS also give cut grades and have their separate methods of doing so. It is really important to evaluate any diamond on its own desirable physical and visual properties rather than going by cut grades in my opinion.

 

[diamondsrockmyworld]

Lorelei - Thank you so much for the answer. Informative and interesting.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 8/27/2009 2:43:17 PM
Author: diamondsrockmyworld
Lorelei - Thank you so much for the answer. Informative and interesting.

Very glad to be of help to you! I have seen one of the expert cutters around today so if he sees this then he might be able to give you more insight!

 

[Diamond Explorer]

Most cutters have access to the same high-quality tools. The real show of talent is how the diamonds are selected, mapped and shaped into their polished shape. It has less to do with the equipment than you would think.

 

[diagem]

Date: 8/27/2009 1:38:43 PM
Author: Stone-cold11
By the proportion which defines light performance.

If it is cut to the proportion that GIA decreed as the Ex cut, it will get an Ex cut grade regardless if it is cut by a master cutter or apprentice. AGS is stricter for it''s AGS0 cut grade, using performance based simulation, but same thing, if it gets the result it gets the grade.

SC..., a cutter must be extremely knowledgeable and experienced to achieve the triple X or 000 grades...
Three parameters must combine to achieve these results...., super angle and symmetry accuracy with exceptional polish on each one of the facets.
Not such an easy task....
Most cutters are no way near this level of cutting.

You are starting to see more cutters showing signs to either get on the bandwagon or go home...

 

[diagem]

Date: 8/27/2009 4:27:34 PM
Author: Diamond Explorer
Most cutters have access to the same high-quality tools. The real show of talent is how the diamonds are selected, mapped and shaped into their polished shape. It has less to do with the equipment than you would think.

DE...,

Its true that "The real show" as you called it is the base to get to the end results..., but try cutting (successful and efficiently) a not so sophisticated cut as the H&A without a great scanner...

Not going to be a walk in the park....

 

[stone-cold11]

Date: 8/27/2009 4:49:02 PM
Author: DiaGem
SC..., a cutter must be extremely knowledgeable and experienced to achieve the triple X or 000 grades...

Three parameters must combine to achieve these results...., super angle and symmetry accuracy with exceptional polish on each one of the facets.

Not such an easy task....

Most cutters are no way near this level of cutting.

You are starting to see more cutters showing signs to either get on the bandwagon or go home...

So if an apprentice, somehow by a streak of luck, cut a stone to the AGS0 cut grade, they will also disqualify the stone? I don''t think so right?

 

[Diamond Explorer]

Date: 8/27/2009 5:08:12 PM
Author: DiaGem

Date: 8/27/2009 4:27:34 PM

Author: Diamond Explorer

Most cutters have access to the same high-quality tools. The real show of talent is how the diamonds are selected, mapped and shaped into their polished shape. It has less to do with the equipment than you would think.

DE...,


Its true that 'The real show' as you called it is the base to get to the end results..., but try cutting (successful and efficiently) a not so sophisticated cut as the H&A without a great scanner...

Not going to be a walk in the park....

I agree. Good Gear is essential, but it still doesn't have to be the latest and greatest to get great results, sometimes there are simpler and less complicated ways of achieving what you want. (Still want a great scanner though

 

[diagem]

Date: 8/27/2009 6:14:37 PM
Author: Diamond Explorer

Date: 8/27/2009 5:08:12 PM
Author: DiaGem

Date: 8/27/2009 4:27:34 PM

Author: Diamond Explorer

Most cutters have access to the same high-quality tools. The real show of talent is how the diamonds are selected, mapped and shaped into their polished shape. It has less to do with the equipment than you would think.

DE...,


Its true that ''The real show'' as you called it is the base to get to the end results..., but try cutting (successful and efficiently) a not so sophisticated cut as the H&A without a great scanner...

Not going to be a walk in the park....

I agree. Good Gear is essential, but it still doesn''t have to be the latest and greatest to get great results, sometimes there are simpler and less complicated ways of achieving what you want. (Still want a great scanner though

There is still no possibility to measure the "exact" angle of a facet ..., the range stands at 3 to 4 tenth of a degree....
New technology is surely welcomed in that area...

 

[WinkHPD]

Date: 8/27/2009 5:26:29 PM
Author: Stone-cold11

Date: 8/27/2009 4:49:02 PM
Author: DiaGem
SC..., a cutter must be extremely knowledgeable and experienced to achieve the triple X or 000 grades...

Three parameters must combine to achieve these results...., super angle and symmetry accuracy with exceptional polish on each one of the facets.

Not such an easy task....

Most cutters are no way near this level of cutting.

You are starting to see more cutters showing signs to either get on the bandwagon or go home...

So if an apprentice, somehow by a streak of luck, cut a stone to the AGS0 cut grade, they will also disqualify the stone? I don''t think so right?

No, why would a Happy Accident be punished? It is HIGHLY UNLIKELY that a stone cut by an apprentice would reach the standards for an AGS0 cut grade diamond, but the graders at the labs do not normally know who cut which diamond when they are grading it, so there would be no way for them to know to punish or reward any given cutter.

Wink