Most people today believe that majority of the diamonds in the market come from Africa. However, the first diamonds came from mines in India. India also developed the first diamond cutting and polishing techniques. At that time, people kept diamonds unpolished and loose, and people considered them sacred objects with magical powers. By the 11th century, people wore diamond jewelry, but the gemstone was still uncut. The initial type of diamond cutting started in the 14th century, but it was a surface-type polishing method to make the stone shiny.
Early days of diamond cutting and polishing
Diamond cutting took centuries to develop. According to historical records, Indian lapidary workers in the 6th century and Islamic jewelers in the 10th century ground up diamonds so they could polish the other stones. A written text believed to be created in the 13th century mentioned that metals could not cut diamonds and other gems. However, diamonds could cut and polish other diamonds.
By itself, diamonds have a fascinating history, and how diamond cutting came about makes for an exciting read. Who would have thought that the stones, formed from carbon eons ago, would become so precious and expensive? We can thank the artistry of lapidaries for creating the different cuts of diamonds to help bring out the gemstone’s inherent beauty and brilliance.
Different types of diamond cuts
Before the brilliance and fire of diamonds were shown to great advantage through modern cutting/faceting techniques, diamonds looked dull and ordinary. They were cut into different styles but did not show the stone’s true beauty. Here are some of the diamond cuts from the early days, where all the other cuts started.
Point cut
The first cut used for diamonds was the point cut, which Indian cutters developed. The cutting technique used a chisel to create a small point on the stone. That point became the starting point for creating the facets to make the stone sparkle and reflect light. The point cut resembles an upright and inverted pyramid glued together.
Table cut
The first significant faceting technique was the table cut, referring to all types of cut with a table facet. The first models started with pyramidal point cuts with one point removed. The other point is fashioned into a flat facet or culet.
Rose cut
The rose cut uses diamond roughs suitable for the flat-bottomed with a domed top style. It features 24 triangular facets, giving the diamond a soft, diffused light sparkle. The briolette cut came from the rose cut, featuring 48 to 88 facets cut on a 3D teardrop-shaped diamond.
Single-cut or eight-cut
The single or eight-cut came from India at the same time the table cut was introduced. The single-cut shows a flat table surrounded by nine or eight facets on its crown. It looks like a square table cut; however, the edges are rounded and faceted. The style was introduced in Europe around the middle of the 1600s.
These are some traditional cuts that started the art of diamond cutting. Learning about them makes you appreciate each piece of diamond’s extensive work so you can enjoy your diamond jewelry.
Image: https://www.pexels.com/photo/wedding-rings-and-diamonds-on-white-table-7436138/
