Diamonds like all gemstones are normally found as rough crystals or rolled pebbles. They must be cut and polished by professionals before being sold as jewellery or ornaments. These professionals are called lapidaries, and it is their job to make the diamond
The lapidary must know the exact properties of each stone being dressed before he or she commences cutting an polishing. These include hardness and dispersion, as well as any weaknesses such as cleavage spots. They must also look carefully for any flaws or inclusions in the diamond. It is vital that the end product has the stone orientated in such a way that it shows the best color of the stone and hides as many flaws as possible.
Probably the oldest known method of cutting are called cabochons. Diamonds that are cut in this way are smooth and polished with a curved outline. This style of cut is used mainly for stones that are opaque or translucent.
If a stone is transparent it is most likely to be cut in such a way that a number of flat polished faces are shown. This is referred to as multi-faceted.
The brilliant cut is the most popular cut for diamonds as it highlights these stones high dispersion and lustre. In an ideal cut all the light that reaches or enters a stone is reflected. In this way the more facets that a diamond has the greater its reflection or lustre. If the angles of the facets are not cut correctly some light may be lost and thus the lustre will be diminished.
The cut of the diamond adds immensely to its value, if you are in the market for a diamond you must make sure to view as many different cuts as possible and choose the one that you fell will look best in the setting you have in mind.
A poorly cut diamond will result in a shabby finished setting. Make sure your diamond has been cut and valued by a professional before purchasing.
Diamonds are not just a girls best friend. If they are cut and set properly they are beautiful on anyone. To learn more about diamonds and the diamond industry visit my site http://www.my-diamond-site.com
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