The Kimberley Process

The most popular cut is affectionately referred to as the brilliant cut. A brilliant is round on top, though the gem itself is cone shaped as to maximize the amount of light that goes through the top. Octahedral shaped diamonds are usually subjected to the brilliant cut, as it is makes it easier to craft two gemstones from a single rock. Cuts that are not brilliant, but still look nice, are called ;fancy cuts.; Fancy cuts are used for oddly shaped diamonds or for fashion and art. The princess cut is the second most popular next to the brilliant cut. It is in the shape of an inverted pyramid, with the uppermost face a square or rectangle. Many GIA diamond rings are crafted with a princess cut. It was invented in the 1960s, *** it a fairly young cut of diamonds when compared with styles that have been around since medieval times. The International Gemology Institute dedicates a considerable section of their IGI appraisals to an analysis of a diamond cut. Even though computers and lasers are used in modern day diamond cutting, around fifty percent of the total rock is lost in the cutting and polishing process. The princess cut is also sometimes called the ;square modified brilliant,; possibly because both styles are so shiny and popular. However, the princess cut is entirely different than the brilliant cut. The style can be traced back to the ;French cut,; which is one of its most direct predecessors. Unlike most cuts, it manages to utilize 80% of the original diamond unlike several other cuts of diamond. This causes the cut to be cheaper to consumers, and more popular amongst retailers and jewelers.