In my last two blogs about the 4C’s of Diamonds, I talked about how diamonds are graded based on their “Color” and “Clarity”. In this blog, I will be going over the third “C” of the diamond, The Cut. Both the Color and Clarity of a diamond are controlled by Mother Nature, but men have full control over how to cut a diamond.

A rough diamond goes through a series of planning and preparation stages prior to being cut and polished. Determining the shape or the Cut of a diamond depends on many factors. Some diamond cutters may choose to retain maximum weight and cut a diamond based on the geometric shape of a natural rough diamond. Some may desire a number of smaller diamonds with high clarity diamonds instead of a single big diamond containing many dark impurities inside. However, most diamond cutters choose a Diamond Cut that would balance both the weight retention and clarity characteristic and most importantly yield highest value.

The Cut of a diamond describes two features of a polished diamond. The first one refers to its outer shape and cutting parameters used to cut the diamond. And the second one refers to how smoothly and symmetrically the outer surface of the diamond is polished. Both the features are equally important to bring the rough diamond to life and to yield a polished diamond with highest brilliance, fire and scintillation.

Interesting Trivia: While there exist 10 different major shapes into which diamonds are cut and polished, the number of diamonds cut into round brilliant shape is more than double of all the other shapes put together. Nearly 75% of all diamonds produced are Round Brilliant cuts.

Diamonds can be cut into infinite number of shapes and sizes. Here is a brief list of ten of the most popular diamond cuts.

1. Round Brilliant Cut: The most widely sold and demanded shape, the Round Brilliant cut is also one of the oldest known cuts. It is the only shape that is considered as a standard shape for diamonds – all other cuts are commonly described as “fancy” cuts. Typically, big round brilliant cut diamonds are considered ideal for solitaire rings.

2. Princess Cut: The runners up in popularity category after Round Brilliant, the Princess cut is as square shaped cut. It creates an extremely beautiful array of light performance whether it’s set in rings, earrings or necklaces. A perfectly crafted Princess Cut diamond is bound to make heads turn.

3. Oval Cut: A modified form of the Round Brilliant cut, the oval cut almost matches it’s more in-demand sibling in terms of showing off the best features of the diamond. Additionally, most Oval cut diamonds, even if of the same carat weight, would seem larger than Round Brilliant cut stones.

4. Marquise Cut: Yet another modification on the Round Brilliant cut, the Marquise cut is shaped like the ball used to play American Football. If diamonds of the same carat weight in different shapes are compared, Marquise cut diamonds would measure the highest in surface area. Those who like big diamonds in their jewelry would definitely enjoy this particular cut.

5. Pear Cut: “Tear Drop” is another name for this cut, as it closely resembles a falling tear drop. It was created by bringing the Round Brilliant and Marquise cuts together. This shape also has the distinction of being host to the largest known cut and polished diamond in the world – the Cullinan I diamond.

6. Cushion Cut: This two centuries old cut was perhaps the most popular and in demand cut before the Round Brilliant Cut caught the fancy of admirers. It is also a square cut just like the Princess cut, but with rounded edges. Some of the best known diamonds in history – the Hope Diamond and the Regent Diamond have been designed in the Cushion cut.

7. Emerald Cut: Steps on the pavilion coupled with an extra-large table defines the rectangular Emerald cut. Unlike most other cuts, the Emerald cut is not designed to highlight the inner fire of the stone. Rather, it focuses on producing a series-of-mirror effect, which makes the diamond look like a chamber stretching to infinity on the inside.

8. Asscher Cut: Created by two of the most gifted diamond craftsmen of all time from Holland – the Asscher Brothers – has been named after them. The Asscher cut is the precursor to the Emerald cut in that it is a square shaped, step sided cut with a smaller table and a higher crown.

9. Radiant Cut: A crossover between the Princess and the Cushion cuts, the Radiant cut is a special one with its facets aligned similar to the brilliant cut. This unique combination gives the Radiant Cut diamond its excellent fire and sparkle.

10. Heart Cut: The most romantic of all the diamond cuts, the Heart cut is naturally the preferred cut for lovers. It finds maximum use in solitaire rings and pendants. The Heart Cut is one of the most difficult cuts due to meticulous attention to detail required to cut and polish its cleft. It is also slightly more expensive compared to the rest of the fancy cuts with similar carat weight due to significant weight loss during the cutting and polishing process.

Hard Fact: The level of planning, working and re-working required to achieve a perfect cut is so complicated that often, it takes years to fully and satisfactorily process a large diamond. For example, it took almost four and half years for the Cullinan I diamond to reach its final and current shape and size.

At Viranigems.com, love is always in the air.

Both of our co-founders, Chirag Virani and Hetal Virani, met each other in kindergarten, and since then they were in the same school, same class, and even sat on the same row for years. VIRANI was incepted when Chirag proposed to Hetal in front of the beautiful Taj Mahal in 2014.

Meet Hetal Virani
Co-Founder and CFO, Viranigems.com

C.A., C.S., C.W.A., L.L.B., and B. Com., has brought her superior financial and legal expertise to the management of Viranigems.com. Hetal is responsible for day-to-day planning, implementing, managing and controlling all finance related activities of the company. Her passion for jewellery combined with her expertise as a Charted Accountant as well as a Cost and Works Accountant allows her to efficiently and effectively manage all the internal resources and keep the overhead costs as low as possible. Hetal has developed a unique demand driven and ‘zero inventory’ made-to- order business model. This cost-effective model combined with our efficient vertical integration from conflict-free rough diamonds procurement to jewellery retail sales helps our customers save up to 30% on diamond jewellery.

Hetal earned her C.W.A. from the Institute of Cost Accountants of India and C.A. from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. She holds a C.S. from the Institute of Company Secretaries of India as well as a Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Commerce from Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, India.

When Hetal is not too busy evaluating financial reports, she loves to design unique jewellery collections for Viranigems.com. Hetal is a free spirited global citizen and loves to travel to unexplored, non-touristy places with her husband, Chirag Virani, whenever she gets a chance.

Meet Chirag Virani
Co-Founder and CEO, Viranigems.com

After completing his Mechanical Engineering from McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada and Master in Business Administration from Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada, Chirag Virani co-founded Viranigems.com with his childhood friend and beloved wife, Hetal Virani. Chirag has a diverse academic and professional background from Canada, the U.S.A., Europe, and India. Being a third generation diamantaire, Chirag overlooks Viranigems.com’s operations along the entire diamond jewellery pipeline starting from conflict free rough diamond procurement, in-house diamond cutting and polishing, jewellery design and manufacturing to jewellery retail sales through both online and offline channels.

With his credentials and professional experience, he was appointed as the Director of Strategic Planning for the Surat Diamond Association, a non-profit organization that has been representing manufacturers, DTC Sight Holders, traders, importers, exporters and institutions of Surat, “The Diamond City”, which cuts and polishes nine out of ten diamonds worldwide. Chirag also plays a vital role as an executive director at B. Virani & Co., a diamond cutting and polishing firm with a lineage of 50 years of expertise and industry experience.

Chirag holds charity causes very close to his heart. Whenever he gets a chance, Chirag loves to contribute to many social causes such as volunteering at Volunteer for Peace in Vietnam, Future Hope Baby Centre in Kenya, Lasting Blessing in Tanzania, Maximo Nivel in Costa Rica, Manvilas Charitable Trust in India to name a few.