What does the term "ideal cut diamond" mean?

You can look at it this way-

GIA is hands down the top grading agency, and their highest cut grade is excellent.

AGS, which is probably the next best, has ideal as their top cut grade.

This means that an AGS ideal=GIA Excellent. There is no real difference.

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The cut proportions of a diamond are probably the most important feature, when examining whether a diamond could be considered "ideal". However, symmetry and polish also play a role in this diamond examination. The AGS use the term "ideal cut diamond" to rate the qualities of a diamond, although "ideal" is still a subjective definition.

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The difference between ideal cut diamonds and non-ideal cut diamonds is in the proportions of the diamonds and the precise craftsmanship that simply gives ideal cut diamonds more of a sparkle. The light return of an ideal cut diamond is as much as 30% higher than a non-ideal diamond. An ideal cut diamond has excellent brilliance and amazing dispersion – other diamonds just don't cut it quite as close to perfection as ideal cut diamonds.

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The term is not official, thus nobody can state that a diamond is certainly an 'ideal cut diamond'. Ideal cut is a rather amorphous term, referring to the 'perfect' diamond, the diamond cut which every diamond cutter aims to obtain and so on.

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"Ideal cut" is usually expressed in the context of round diamonds. A diamond that possesses perfect proportions is said to have been cut perfectly, hence the term "ideal cut". Such a diamond has a cut which induces its brilliance and refractivity.

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