UNDERSTANDING ON THE ANATOMY OF A DIAMOND

THE ANATOMY OF DIAMONDS

A person’s understanding on the anatomy of a diamond is not usually very good. Diamonds – and many of the other precious jewels – have their own anatomy.

This anatomy is made up of seven distinct parts: the diameter, the table, the crown, the girdle, the pavilion, the depth, and the cutlet.

The cutlet is on the point on the bottom of a cut diamond. This is simply a piece that protects the point at the bottom. When the gemstone is going to be put into a setting – for a bracelet, ring, etc. – the cutlet doesn’t need to be there.

The diameter and depth are easy enough to figure out. The diameter is the length and width of the stone at the girdle – which is the widest part of the gem and the narrow band that separates the flat part of the gem from the tip. The depth is how high the gem is from the girdle to the cutlet. Both the diameter and depth help figure out the physical size of the gemstone.

The crown is the part of the gem that is at the top and widens as it meets the girdle, where it stops. The pavilion is directly below the girdle. Angles and proportions in this area of the diamond creates brilliance and tapers to a point. The table of the diamond is the flat part at the top of the diamond.

Each piece of a diamond is taken into account when a gemstone is graded for brilliance and excellence. For example, a particularly thin girdle can expose the diamond to more chipping, while a thicker girdle can put too much weight in the middle of the diamond and cause it to look smaller compared to diamonds of similar weight.

Other measurements used to determine facts about the diamond in question include the diameter (used to calculate table percentage) and the depth (which helps to determine how well the diamond will sparkle in the light). The table is used to determine table percentage – which is a fancy way of saying how big the table is compared to the diameter. For example, a 60% table is a table that is 60% of the diameter.

While gemstones are a girl’s best friend, the anatomy of the gemstones is a scientist’s best friend.