Diamond Cut

At the turn of the last century, it was mathamatically determined, what the optimal proportions for a diamond should be to assure maximum brilliance and dispersion. Those proportions are as follows:

The quality of a diamond's cut makes all the difference in how the stone appears. A poorly cut "D", Flawless stone, can look dead and lifeless, whereas an ideally proportioned diamond of much lower color and clarity will appear radiant and dazzling. So, why aren't all diamonds ideally proportioned? The answer is quite simple. Diamonds are sold by weight. Stones cut to ideal proportions waste more of the diamond crystal, therefore weigh less than stones that are cut to maximize weight. Here are examples:

Diamond Shapes