With an appearance that is most certainly striking and distinct, the diamond is one of the most expensive stones known to man and has been the source of both much contention and beauty.

There are just so many aspects to keep in mind when looking to purchase a diamond, but the cut is an aspect that has a strong significance. What exactly is the cut of a diamond? The cut of a diamond relates not to its shape but the symmetry, polish and proportioning of a stone which can greatly impact its overall appearance.

In nature diamonds that are discovered are not the fine pieces that adorn the most fashionable pieces of dazzling jewellery, but rather they are imperfect in terms of shape. These raw stones are then fashioned according to different requirements and cuts accordingly. The most common of diamond cuts is known as the round brilliant which features facet arrangements that have been perfected through both scientific methods and careful analysis.

This process of cutting diamonds was not always practiced and in fact during the heydays of diamond jewellery if a stone wasn't well formed, it simply wasn't used. But it wasn't long before ingenious people figured out that they could turn an imperfect stone in to a gleaming masterpiece simply by polishing uneven faces.

The most important facet of diamonds today is undoubtedly fire of the stone which is the quality of the light that emanates from within the stone. Cut is strongly related to this aspect and the better the cut the better the fire.

Fire was a quality that was long understated until a man called Vincent Peruzzi increased the number of cuts from 17 to a staggering 33 in what was known as a triple cut. This feat greatly increased the fire and brilliance of a diamond like never before. Still the stones produced through this method seem greatly subdued in comparison to what is possible through the fine art of modern day cutting.

When purchasing a diamond, potential buyers should consider the polish (which determines how much light can enter the stone), Symmetry and the proportion which are all determined by the cut of the stone.