Among the four criteria that define a diamond's quality — Colour, Clarity, Cut and Carat — Cut is the only one that results entirely from human craftsmanship. It is also, in many respects, the most decisive factor for a stone's brilliance.
Cutting a diamond is an ancient art. The diamond cutter analyses each rough stone to determine the optimal way to shape it, seeking to reveal maximum brilliance while retaining maximum weight. It is an equation of absolute precision.
Why Cut Is Essential
A perfectly cut diamond becomes a remarkably efficient optical prism. Light enters through the table (the top facet), reflects off the internal facets and exits through the top of the stone, creating what is known as the fire and brilliance of the diamond.
If the cut is too deep, light escapes through the sides. If it is too shallow, it leaks through the bottom. In both cases, brilliance is reduced and the stone appears dull. Geometric precision is everything.
Evaluating the Cut
The GIA evaluates cut according to several parameters: overall proportions, facet symmetry and surface polish. Each criterion is graded from Poor to Excellent. The overall grade synthesises these evaluations.
Origine Paris's Choice: Triple Excellent
At Origine Paris, we require Triple Excellent (or Triple EX) cut for all our diamonds — the maximum grade awarded simultaneously for cut, symmetry and polish. It is the highest standard in the profession.
A lab-grown diamond shares exactly the same physical properties as a natural diamond, including its incomparable hardness. It is therefore cut and polished by the very same master craftsmen, with the same tools and the same level of exacting standards, for an equally outstanding result.