Diamond & Jewelry News, Advice and Prices for Consumers
Diamond & Jewelry News, Advice and Prices for Consumers
February 22, 2010
Among all the parameters of diamond cut - diamond cut (shape), number of facets, size, etc, diamond polish and symmetry seem the least meaningful to me. Symmetry, generally speaking, doesn't seem like a quality that is so difficult for a diamond cutter to obtain, and polish - Is it so important if the facets of a diamond are smooth and polished? If the diamond has been cut properly why does it matter if it is polished? It seem that diamond experts stress symmetry and polish constantly. Do they pay attention to these details because they find it too boring and trivial to deal with the bigger and more important diamond details or is there something I might have been missing?
February 25, 2010
Polish and cut are more or less the same thing! I can see why you think that "polish" refers to much smaller issues than diamond "cut", but actually, the final diamond shape, the number of facets a diamond possesses and even symmetry are all parameters which are considered under "diamond polish". Once you solve this misconception I believe you won't need to ask this question.
February 23, 2010
Polish refers to the smoothness of a diamond's facets while symmetry refers to the alignment of its facets. When the polish grade is poor the diamond may appear dull and dark with a blurred sparkle. When the symmetry is poor the light which travels through the diamond is misdirected, resulting in dulled brilliance. When buying a diamond, one should always inspect its polish and symmetry grade as well as its cut grade and clarity. Polish and symmetry grades are listed on the diamond's certificate by the GIA or AGSL. A diamond with excellent polish and symmetry grades is rarer to find and is thus more valuable.
