What do the cuts mean e.g. H&A, 1a, 1B etc

[mandi]

New to this site and wondering what the cuts mean.....

Learning something new today lol

 

[pqcollectibles]

The different Cut Classes refer to the quality of the make, or Cut. Here's a link to the Cut Charts.

http://diamonds.pricescope.com/round.asp

Here's a link to an explanation on how to grade the criteria of a diamond.

http://www.gemappraisers.com/

Click on the Cut Class link on the left for a complete explanation guide. AGA also has a Do It Yourself Cut Grading system. Click on the DIY link, enter the data on diamonds you are considering and the DIY will assess the Cut Class for you.

1A Cut Class is the better proportions and the scale slides down from there. The quality of the make, or Cut, is a determining factor in deciding price.

Hearts and Arrows are patterns exhibited by diamonds cut with specific internal, optical symmetery. Not all Ideal diamonds are H&A's and not all H&A's are Ideal cuts. A diamond that exhibits clean, crisp, true H&A patterns will carry a bit of a pricing premium as well. H&A is also a marketing ploy. Many well cut diamonds exhibit the patterns to some extent. Grading Labs do not evaluate for H&A patterns. A cutter or wholesaler can laser inscribe H&A on the girdle, and the Grading Labs will note the inscription in the Comments section even when the diamond is not a "true" H&A.