GIA
Excellent and Ideal Cut Diamonds
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About
Round Brilliant and Ideal Cut Diamonds
Short History:
Diamonds are
formed over a period of millions of years between 75 and
120 miles below the Earth's surface where the necessary
temperature and pressure exist. Although explorers
and scientists have discovered some deposits on most
continents, commercial quality and quantities are found
in only a few places. The first river-bed
(alluvial) diamonds were probably discovered in India,
in around 800 B.C. The European travelers visiting
India for its diamond treasures used to transport
diamonds from the India Mine to Europe for cutting. It
is believed that the early diamond cutting styles
originated in Europe.
The earliest reference to diamond cutting is in l550 in
Antwerp, the most important diamond center of the
period, where a diamond-cutters' guild was soon to be
established.
The early diamond cutters were unable to
polish the rough diamonds. However, they found out that
they could polish or grind diamonds into a point by
polishing almost parallel to the rough surfaces. They
also realized that only diamonds can cut diamonds so
they used a wooden table covered with diamond dust to
achieve polishing. This resulted in the "Rose
Cut". It was called the rose cut due to it's resemblance
to the "Rose Bud". The rose cut came into existence in
the early sixteenth century and was widely used through
the eighteen century.
There were a few intermediaries that contributed to the
present cutting style of the round brilliant cut. The
"Old Mine Cut" and then the "old European cut"
were more evident in the late eighteenth century until
the early twentieth century.
They ultimately gave birth to the present Round
Brilliant cut and the ideal cut diamond proportions.
