A diamond cutter is a jeweler who performs stone-cutting. Usually, this is the only field of jewelry crafts in which he is engaged. Some are well trained, high-level, master cutters who process diamonds only. Other craftsmen are trained to process a wide range of precious and semi-precious stones including agates, rubies, emeralds, spinels, etc.
A cutter’s work is rather difficult. Every single type of mineral possesses unique properties and features which must be considered. Different cut types bring different results, affecting the light play, the hue, and the brightness of light reflected by a stone. Classic brilliant cut allows for the most brilliance and light play from a diamond’s facets. Stones like rubies and other corundums, valued for the deepness of their color and its hue, are usually step-cut in order to achieve the most dramatic and attractive look. If you are interested in learning more about cut types, please check Classic Cut and Fancy Cuts articles.
While processing precious stones, a cutter must be patient and enormously precise. The smallest flaw can damage a stone’s appearance and beauty, thus reducing its price. In addition, the non-homogeneous structure of many stones demands aggressive cutting. Their natural size may be significantly reduced in order to achieve a desired shape. In the Middle Ages, when diamond cutting was an entirely manual process, it could take a few years to cut a diamond and shape it ideally.
History shows examples of flaws in cutting so damaging that huge and valuable diamonds literally fell into pieces. This happened to the 968.9-carat “Sierra Leone Star”. Its parts were processed separately, producing 17 small diamonds, but the unique treasure was lost forever.