Well cut

Well Cut: Well cut proportions ensure the maximum compromise between fire and brilliance.

A well cut piece of chrome diopside is a beautiful sight to behold, and a reasonably priced alternative to Tsavorite or chrome tourmaline.
...

Well cut: Reflects the maximum amount of light that is entering the diamond. This allows the diamond to sparkle as brilliantly as possible.

Well cut proportions ensure the maximum compromise between fire and brilliance. When light enters a properly cut diamond, it is reflected from facet to facet, and then back up through the top, exhibiting maximum brilliance, fire and sparkle.

A well cut gem reflects the light back well making the gem more lustrous. Round is the most popular shape. All other shapes are generally classified as fancy shapes.

In a well cut diamond, the light strikes each pavilion facet at an angle which allows most of the light to reflect back to the crown (top). As it passes through the crown facets at a low angle, the light refracts upon exit.

Fine or Well Cut Diamonds
When a diamond is cut to proper proportions, light is reflected from one facet to another and then dispersed through the top of the stone.

In examining well cut brilliants with exceptional brilliance and "fire", EPPLER found in 1939 that the cutters preferred quite definite measurements and size ratios.

An extremely well cut Old European Brilliant. The images in the top right and left show the difference between the Old European and Standard Round Brilliant
Standard Round Brilliant ...

Exceptionally well cut stones and stones with a VVS or IF clarity can cost 10%-20% more
Secondary colors, such as brownish yellow, reduce cost
Pink Diamonds ...

Ranges for the well cut pears for table % and total depth % are about 53-63% and 58-65%, respectively.

Window In a well cut faceted gem, the pavilion facets (those on the lower half of the stone) should reflect light back out the top or table of the stone.

The effect is seen as multi-colored flashes through a diamond's table or as internal fire in well cut gemstones.

But a well cut diamond with less than average clarity and color can be a dazzling spectacle of light and fire.
Remember - Cut really is all about beauty
Clarity - from the inside out
First things first.

In a well cut gem, the reflecting light is what brings out the brilliance. In fact, the display of symmetry is what makes the gem more luminous, as it plays with shadows and light. Thus the better the cut, the more sparkle the gem will have.

The bow-tie is a direct sign of how well cut the diamond is, lesser noticeable indicates a gem well cut, more noticeable, a poorer cut.

Owing to the shape of a well cut stone it is sometimes difficult to get light through the material, yet by turning the stone repeatedly, some position will be found in which the curving parallel striae can be seen.

This can make a well cut diamond look 2 or 3 colour grades better than it actually is. Similarly, diamonds in perfect proportion may also look better than other diamonds of higher clarity, but which are not as well cut.

Well cut stone will not show noticeable inclusions (hidden near girdle).
Blue - finest have color of fine aqua., quite rare. Most material too dark or has gray overtone. Tend to be less included than pinks or reds.

Even when it is well cut it lacks brilliance. Occasionally quartz will contain some interesting inclusions that can increase its appeal.

If a diamond is well cut, the diamond's light performance often will disguise certain degrees of coloration.

Tanzanite is very attractive if well cut so special attention should be given to the overall proportions.
Due to the perfect cleavage of this stone, handle it with great care.

When a diamond or gemstone is well cut and polished, it is said to have a beautiful finish. Finish is also used to describe the polish or texture applied to the metal on an item of jewelry.

The Oval Cut is also a beautiful shape and provides great brilliance and fire through its 56 facets. A well cut Oval shaped diamond can be almost as bright as a well cut Round Brilliant shaped diamond.
Marquise Cut ...

We recommend looking for a well cut and clean stone that has a medium "Canary" color. These medium bright stones are still far less expensive than a comparable blue or pink sapphire.

AA Transparent, eye clean, well cut, good polish.
White SapphireQualityAA ShapeSizeAvg. WeightPrice Each Round Brilliant
1.25mm
0.01 ...

If properly oriented and well cut, moissanite strongly resembles diamond, due to its high refractive index and dispersion.

Formulas...For weight estimation based on measurements in millimeters to 1/10. assuming well cut stones with little or no bulge factor. Some formulas for various gem cuts.
Fracture...A break with an uneven or irregular surface.

These two stones are both clean, well cut, and show a purple color unlike we have ever seen before. Even more remarkable, both are natural and unheated.

The multi-colored flashes of light from a well cut diamond. It gives gems their internal fire.
Doublet: ...

In recent years, Montana agate has gained wide acceptance in jewelry and well cut stones with nicely defined patterns often exceed the price of some of the more well known gemstones. Plume agate is another that often brings high dollar.

Finish - Finish refers to the surface of a gemstone or piece of jewelry. On stones, it indicates a polished, well cut stone; on jewelry it can describe the texture as well as polish including high polish, matte or brushed.

A well cut stone should reflect back light evenly across the surface without a dark or washed out area in the center than can result from a stone that is too deep or shallow.

cut The style in which a gem has been fashioned; e.g., emerald cut, brilliant cut. Also refers to a gem's proportions; e.g., well cut.

The greater the change in color (especially if there is no brown), the more valuable the alexandrite is. Look for a quality stone that is well cut with clarity. Alexandrite has a hardness rating of 8.5.

Princess Cut Diamonds: I understand that the princess shape does not have the same grading parameters as the round brilliant for the quality of cut. How can I tell just from the GIA certificate if a princess shape is a well cut stone with good ...

The most valuable sapphires are well cut, intense but even color blue stones.

Poor symmetry will hurt a diamond's sparkle and fire, due to loss of light as it flows through the diamond. Excellent symmetry of a well cut and well proportioned diamond can have a great effect on the diamond's sparkle, or ' ...

It has a hardness of about 7-1/2 and a specific gravity of 4.68. The stone has natural colors of yellow, brown, red and green. Heat can create blue, clear, and greenish stones. Zircon has high dispersion and a well cut stone has good fire.

Green Gems of low Zircon are also very rare and unusual, but not as valuable. Clean blue zircon gems over 10 carats are uncommon, and they are priced accordingly. All Zircon gems should be clean and well cut.

cut to showcase this feature, Bi-color citrine is generally judged by the balanced contrast between its colors. Cutting the gem so both colors show is sometimes challenging for cutters. While notoriously difficult to cut consistently, a well cut ...

In a well cut stone, the most beautiful colour nuance will always be visible from above, experienced cutters working the raw crystal in perfect accord with its material properties. Most kunzites, however, have a fairly light colour.

Well cut princess cuts typically have tables between 60 and 75% and total depths between 65 and 80%. Because princess cuts retain most of the weight out of the rough, unpolished stone, princess cuts are the least costly to manufacture.

See also: Cut, Stone, Color, Jewel, Diamond