Ideal Diamonds: King of Cut

The ideal cut diamond has remained the undisputed "king of cut" in the diamond world for decades. It has long been heralded for its ideal balance of maximum reflection and dispersion. However, in the last twenty years or so, some ideal manufacturers began to drift away from the strict proportions prescribed by Marcel Tolkowski. The reasons for this evolution revolve around yield (trying to get a diamond with more carat weight), big price jumps between size categories i.e., .69-.70 ct., .89-.90 ct., .99-1.00 ct., etc. and the spiraling cost of rough diamonds. Strict proportions limits were compromised and table size percentages grew to 57% maximum from the 53% of Tolkowski. Perfect polish and symmetry became less important.

As cutters deviated from the strict Tolkowski specs their diamonds lost some of there potential for perfection. Ideal cut became what it is today. An ideal range of specifications known as the American Brilliant Cut.

Major American manufacturers of ideal cut diamonds began to manufacture in lower wages countries in search of low production costs. These diamonds once fashioned one by one, with the utmost of care, were mass produced in large factories. Stones cut on automated equipment often receive little individual attention. Their automatic machines were set to produce hundreds of diamonds a week in the ideal range. As a result, some became perfect ideal cuts with top polish and symmetry. Still others barely made the grade their polish and symmetry only disappointingly average. Fortunately, not all cutters followed this trend and some continued to turn out superior ideal cut diamonds. They realize the beauty comes from finishing the job.

Today, ideal cut diamonds still reign far above average cut diamonds in both beauty and rarity. Like the finest wines or a luxury car, ideal cut diamonds are not for everybody. Knowledgeable buyers of quality still seek out ideal cut diamonds in their quest for "the best money can buy". That quest is about to become more interesting with the introduction of the newly crowned king of cut.