ANATOMY OF A DIAMOND AND THE EFFECT OF LIGHT
The two main parts of a diamond that need to be considered are the pavilion and the crown. Their relationship to one another is what determines how well the diamond sparkles.
When light hits a well-cut diamond it should bounce off the internal walls and then shoot back to the surface of the diamond, creating a stunning sparkle. If the diamond has not been cut well, the light will escape.
The anatomy of a diamond can be broken down into the following parts:
The three most important components are diameter, table, and depth. This is because the ratio of the table to the diameter, and the depth to diameter, figure prominently in determining a diamond’s cut grade.
Crown – The crown is the top part of the diamond, including the table and the girdle.
Culet – This is the bottom tip of the diamond.
Depth – The height of the diamond, from the culet to the table.
Diameter – The width of the diamond measured across its circumference.
Pavilion – The bottom part of the diamond, including the culet and the girdle.
Girdle – The thin perimeter of the diamond, dividing the crown above from the pavilion below.
Table – The flat surface facet at the top of the diamond.
While understanding a diamond’s anatomy can be helpful, it should not supersede the importance of, or be confused with, cut grade. The various parts of a diamond and how well they are cut are included as part of a diamond’s cut grade.