Diamond or brilliant: discover the differences

Diamond is a natural gemstone composed of carbon, whose rarity and hardness make it a symbol of luxury and beauty. Brilliant, on the other hand, is the type of cut that can be made on a gemstone, specifically to reflect the maximum amount of light, creating an effect of sparkle and brilliance.

Diamond characteristics: carat, color, clarity and cut

To choose quality diamond jewelry, it is important to evaluate its main characteristics, the famous 4 Cs :

• CARAT: Carat refers to the weight of the diamond, which is measured in carats. A one-carat diamond weighs 0.2 grams
• COLOUR: Color is another important characteristic, as the most valuable diamond is colorless, without any tint.
• CLARITY: Clarity refers to the presence of inclusions within the diamond: the purer it is, the more valuable it is, although inclusions can make the diamond unique and original.
• CUT: The cut is very important as it affects the brilliance of the diamond: when the cut is excellent, it allows light to enter and exit the diamond optimally, creating a sparkling effect.

Who invented the brilliant cut?

The diamond brilliant cut was devised by Marcel Tolkowsky in 1919, who discovered the ideal proportions for obtaining maximum brilliance from a gemstone. The ideal “brilliant cut” is round in shape with 57 facets, which becomes 58 facets considering the one in place of the apex, and is still considered a work of art today. In later decades they tried, and still try, to vary the amount of facets by resorting to different cuts in order to force the search for originality. However, for now it remains the best and commercially most popular cut.

Remember that the brilliant is not a diamond

It is crucial to emphasize that buying a brilliant is no guarantee that you are buying a diamond: in fact, even a piece of glass or any other type of gemstone can be faceted to a brilliant, precisely to enhance its brightness and brilliance.

Many colorless precious gems are cut to brilliant: just think of the very common cubic zirconia, a synthetic stone created as an imitation of diamond. This is precisely why great care must be taken, especially when one comes across offers of a brilliant cubic zirconia or cubic zirconia: they are not diamonds at all but mere imitations with a derisory cost.

Other diamond cuts and shapes: oval, heart-shaped, marquise

So the question arises: if a round brilliant-cut diamond shape has the most brilliance, why should I buy any other diamond cut? Taste is taste and there is no question. Each cut and shape on diamonds has its own characteristics, we go from oval diamond ring, unique. Some prefer a marquise shape, also known as a navette, which allows a stone to look larger, for example; others opt for a fantasy-cut diamond instead of the classic brilliant because it adds a more original and personal touch to their ring: an engagement ring with a heart-cut diamond has its why.

You can discover numerous diamond jewelry pieces in the Ledial catalog, and if you have a small budget you can opt for cubic zirconia jewelry.