The classic diamond cut, also called a brilliant cut, is a type of cut which is used for diamonds and some other gems that possess good dispersion qualities (for example, synthetic diamonds such as the Moissanites or cubic zirconia). The diamond cut maximizes the shine and sparkle of the gem's faceting. The secret of a diamond's beauty is simple: a ray of light enters the gem and is reflected twice by the facets and leaves the gem refracted into rays of different colors.
The perfect brilliant cut has 57 facets (flat, crystal sides), which is more than any other type of cut. This number of facets is ideal for achieving the optimal light reflecting qualities of the gem. The classic brilliant cut has a round shape. Other types of diamond cuts such as the Marquise or pear cut also have 57 facts, but, unless it is specified otherwise, a diamond cut refers to a round cut. The round cut is the most expensive diamond cut because, in order to fashion 57 facets in the round shape, at least half of the original gem's mass is removed. Other types of a diamond cut are crafted from gems that resemble their final shape, such as the pear cut, so more of the original diamond can be retained in the final product.
The classic brilliant cut consists of 57 facets: 33 on the top and 24 on the bottom. The top flat facet is called the table. Around the table, three tiers of facets are cut to form the crown (the face part of a diamond). The bottom of the diamond, the pavilion, consists usually of one tier of facets that meet at the culet, which is sometimes also called the point.
Besides the classic round diamond cut, there are other cuts that are used for different kinds of jewelry. An elongated diamond cut with a point on each end is called marquise. A radiant cut is typically a slightly rectangular or square cut diamond. Pear combines the brilliance and shape of a round stone with the elongated elegance of a Marquise. The "ordinary" cut is also popular and is used for small diamonds: it consists of an 8-faceted crown and an 8-faceted pavilion. Swiss cut consists of 32 facets: 16 facets on the crown and 16 facets on the pavilion. The royal cut consists of a 12-faceted crown and 74-faceted pavilion.
New types of the diamond cut continue to emerge. At the end of the 19th century, the "new" cut was the profile cut: a flat stone up to 1.5 mm thick that contained microscopic grooves. As result of the grooving, the jewelry appeared to contain several small gems instead of just one. When the technology of laser cutting was developed, it enabled a rapid increase in various and unusual ways in how a diamond can be cut.