By
Bryan Boyne G.G. (GIA)
Pure Perfection: D Flawless A CUT ABOVE®
Diamonds are rare. Flawless diamonds are exceptionally rare. Flawless diamonds that are perfectly colorless are phenomenally rare. How rare does that make diamonds that are perfect in color, clarity and also in cut?
D color (perfectly colorless) IF (internally flawless) diamonds are estimated to represent a miniscule .001% of world diamond production. Because diamond prices are based upon rarity, the price premium for perfect color and clarity is substantial.
This market reality makes buyers for D IF diamonds extremely rare as well! It is particularly true when you consider that diamonds just a few grades lower in color and/or clarity can be equally beautiful and available for a significantly lower price. There is clearly an emotional component at play where D IF diamonds are concerned. These elite gems are purchased by people who want the very, very best - despite the premium cost.
So, does it make sense to buy a perfect diamond without the perfect cut? Why would customers for D IF diamonds not insist on the very best cutting, especially since cut quality is the key to light performance, sparkle, brilliance and fire?
Let’s look at what happens when we add the all-important cut grade aspect to this discussion. Because D IF quality rough diamonds come out of the ground so exceedingly infrequently, and because the value of this rough is so extremely high, cutters are inclined to try to extract every last percentage point from the rough. In order to do so, quality compromises are frequently made in planning and cutting the diamond for maximum yield, especially if the final weight can achieve a “magic mark” in weight such as 0.50ct, 0.75ct, 1.00ct, 1.50ct, or 2.00ct - points along the size continuum where per carat prices jump, resulting in sharply increasing total value. This explains why very few D IF diamonds are in fact certified Ideals!
For those that want it all, a D IF A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal is truly the ultimate gem of gems. One in a Million? Factoring in ultimate cut quality, it is believed that such diamonds are actually rarer than that!
At one carat, a super gem like this 1.063ct D IF A CUT ABOVE® might in fact represent something on the order of a ten million to one in terms of rarity.
And rarity increases exponentially with size. At two carats, this 2.106ct D IF A CUT ABOVE® represents something on the order of a hundred million to one!
If true perfection is your goal, go all the way with the diamond “holy trinity”- Perfect Color, Perfect Clarity, and Perfect Cut - D IF A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Diamonds.
For more specific questions ask our experts
