When GIA introduced their Cut grade system in 2005, the diamond industry quickly adopted it. Manufacturers began cutting diamonds to specific combinations of angles and table sizes to maximize weight while still achieving GIA’s top grade, “Excellent.” Tom Yonelunas, CEO of the GIA Laboratory, stated, “Diamond manufacturers will be able to cut round brilliants to a broader range than previously allowed and still achieve a top grade, creating great-looking diamonds. This could lead to higher yields and better weight retention from the rough stone.”

So, if a diamond is rated as Excellent by GIA, it’s supposed to be the best, right? Not exactly. When a jeweler presents a stone as having an “Excellent Cut,” they might say, “You can’t get better than that!” While it’s true that GIA’s highest grade is “Excellent” and there is no grade beyond it, some jewelers might still use terms like Ideal Cut or Super Ideal to describe diamonds that they believe offer superior quality. However, these terms are not officially recognized by GIA. This is too bad, as GIA’s “Excellent” grade is merely “entry level” for top cutting. The wide range of acceptable combinations in the GIA system allows for cutting to the outer limits of the range, which can result in a stone that may be quite mediocre. Experts in diamond cutting know that much tighter parameters can produce a diamond with significantly better brilliance and light performance. Our company realizes that small differences in crown and pavilion angles, as well as table size, can make a diamond spectacular or just OK, even if both stones are rated Excellent by GIA. This is not difficult to see either. Take a look at side-by-side images of GIA Excellent Cut diamonds on any major retail diamond website, such as Blue Nile or James Allen, and you will notice how different the stones can appear. We’re happy to provide you with our preferred parameters for the best cut stones available in today’s market. Contact us from our website today.