Education
Diamond Education
- Diamond Buying Guide
- Diamond Cut
- Diamond Cut Types
- Ideal Cut Diamonds
- Hearts and Arrows Diamonds
- What is Diamond Depth
- Diamond Table
- Lab Diamond Cut
- Antique Cut Diamonds
- Brilliant Cut Diamonds
- Rose Cut Diamonds
- What Is The Most Expensive Diamond Cut?
- What Are Step Cut Diamonds?
- Diamond Bow Ties
- How Are Diamonds Cut
- Diamond Brilliance
- Spread Diamonds
- Diamond Fire
- Crushed Ice Diamonds
- Diamond Carat
- Diamond Color
- Diamond Clarity
- IF Diamonds
- FL Diamonds
- Diamond Inclusions Guide
- Flawless vs Internally Flawless
- Which Diamond Clarity Is Best?
- VS2 vs VS1: Diamond Clarity Comparison
- VVS2 vs VVS1: Diamond Clarity Comparison
- SI2 vs SI1: Diamond Clarity Comparison
- SI1 vs VS2: Diamond Clarity Comparison
- VS1 vs VVS2: Diamond Clarity Comparison
- Accent Diamond Clarity
- Lab Diamond Clarity
- SI Diamonds
- VS Diamonds
- VVS Diamonds
- Diamond Shape
- Lab Diamond Shape
- Asscher
- Cushion
- Emerald
- Marquise
- Oval
- Pear
- Princess
- Radiant
- Round
- Which Diamond Cut Is Best?
- Round vs Princess Diamond Cut
- Round vs Cushion Diamond Cut
- Cushion vs Princess Diamonds
- Cushion vs Oval Cut Diamonds
- Emerald vs Asscher Cut Diamond
- Princess vs Marquis Diamonds
- Princess vs Radiant Cut Diamonds
- Cushion vs Asscher Cut Diamonds
- Emerald vs Radiant Cut Diamonds
- Oval vs Marquise Cut Diamonds
- Oval vs Pear Cut Diamonds
- Pear vs Marquise Cut Diamonds
- Emerald vs Cushion Cut Diamonds
- Elongated Cushion Cut Diamonds
- Diamond Certification
- Diamond Fluorescence
- Diamond Symmetry
- Diamond Polish
- Diamond Girdle
- Diamond Culet
- Diamond Pricing
- Diamond Sourcing
- Diamond Size Chart Carat & MM
- Natural vs Synthetic Diamonds
- History Of Lab Grown Diamonds
- How Diamonds Are Formed
- Diamond 4 C's
- Fancy Colored Diamonds
- Engraved Rings
- NY Diamond District
Engagement Ring Education
- How To Buy Engagement Rings
- Affordable Engagement Rings
- Cost of a One Carat Diamond
- How To Buy A Lab Diamond Ring
- How to Buy An Engagement Ring In a Time Crunch
- How to Choose An Engagement Ring
- How to Pick Your Engagement Ring Budget
- Engagement Rings For Second Marriage
- Best Time to Buy An Engagement Ring
- How to Buy An Engagement Ring As a Couple
- Everything You Need to Know About Dainty Engagement Rings
- Future Mother In Law's Guide to Engagement Ring Shopping
- Engagement Ring Financing
- Why You Need an Engagement Ring Appraisal
- Best Round Cut Engagement Rings
- Best Square Cut Engagement Ring
- Top Teardrop Engagement Rings
- Best Asscher Cut Engagement Rings
- Best Oval Cut Engagement Rings
- Best Radiant Cut Engagement Rings
- Best Marquise Cut Engagement Rings
- Twisting Rings
- Best Emerald Cut Engagement Rings
- Best Cushion Cut Engagement Rings
- Best Dainty Engagement Rings
- Best Unique Engagement Rings
- Best Traditional Diamond Engagement Rings
- Best Split Shank Diamond Engagement Rings
- Top 10 Square Halo Engagement Rings
- Top 10 Unusual Engagement Rings
- Black Diamond Engagement Rings
- Edwardian Engagement Rings
- Antique Style Engagement Rings
- Nature Inspired Engagement Ring
- Filigree Rings
- Art Deco Rings
- Wide Band Engagement Rings
- Infinity Engagement Rings
- Best Two Tone Diamond Engagement Rings
- Victorian Style Engagement Rings
- Minimalistic Engagement Rings
- Big Style Engagement Rings
- Cute Style Engagement Rings
- Modern Style Engagement Rings
- Past Present and Future Rings
- Most Expensive Celebrity Engagement Rings
- Noteworthy Celebrity Engagements (and Rings) of 2017
- Thin Engagement Rings
- Pretty Style Engagement Rings
- Double Band Engagement Rings
- 1 Carat Diamond Ring
- Top Princess Cut Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Cushion Cut Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Women's Rose Gold Engagement Rings
- Top Round Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Sapphire and Diamond Engagement Rings
- Top East West Engagement Rings
- Top Pave Engagement Rings
- Top Split Shank Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Unique Halo Engagement Rings
- Rose Gold Pear Shaped Engagement Rings
- Top Yellow Gold Pear Shaped Engagement Rings
- Top Oval Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Cushion Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Yellow Gold Engagement Rings
- Top Marquise Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Yellow Gold Cushion Cut Engagement Rings
- Top Emerald Cut Three Stone Engagement Rings
- Top Bypass Engagement Rings
- Top Rose Gold Cushion Cut Engagement Rings
- Top Rose Gold Oval Engagement Rings
- Top Emerald Cut Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Yellow Gold Oval Engagement Rings
- Top Rose Gold Emerald Cut Engagement Rings
- Top Oval Three Stone Engagement Rings
- Top Floating Diamond Engagement Rings
- Top Cushion Cut Three Stone Engagement Rings
- Top Princess Cut Three Stone Engagement Rings
- Top Simple Engagement Rings
- Vintage Style Engagement Rings
- Types of Accent Diamonds
- Everything You Need to Know Before Setting Diamonds
- Engagement Ring Prong Guide
- All About Ring Resizing
- Identifying Your Ring After A Repair
- Everything You Need to Know About Milgrain
- Everything You Need to Know About Wide Band Engagement Rings
- Eternity Rings vs Infinity Rings
- When To Propose
- What Are Baguette Diamond Engagement Rings
- What to Say When You Propose
- What Are the Groom's Parents Responsible For?
Gemstone Education
Jewelry Education
Metal Education


Ideal Cut Diamonds are an Ideal Best Friend
What's better than a flawless diamond? It's not a trick question. Only a small number of loose diamonds are so perfect and brilliant that they deserve high diamond cut grades (along with the price tags that come along with them). Ideal cut diamonds are the top of the diamond line — the highest quality subset of diamonds already considered flawless. They're the smallest percentage of all perfect diamonds, and rarest of all gemstones.
What does ideal cut mean for diamonds?
Ideal cut is a diamond cut grade. Ideal cut diamonds are diamonds whose symmetry, angles, light reflection, proportions and shine are as perfect as gemstones can be. Because ideal cut diamonds are so rare, they're only produced in two brilliant cuts: princess cut and round cut. Those are the only styles that meet the "ideal" specifications. (An emerald cut or pear-shaped diamond might be perfect for you, but be wary of anyone trying to sell you one as ideal cut.)

Where did the term "ideal cut diamond" come from?
Expert jewel cutter Marcel Tolkowsky created the ideal cut in 1919. When pursuing an engineering Ph.D. in London, he wrote his thesis on diamond grinding. Tolkowsky found that if a diamond was cut too deeply or at suboptimal angles, it would lose sparkle. His conclusion: For a diamond to achieve perfect sparkle, it had to be cut in 58 perfectly engineered facets.
Tolkowsky gave the ideal cut diamond the name by which jewelry professionals know it today. It's also known as the Tolkowsky Brilliant, the American Standard, and the Tolkowsky cut diamond. He established that ideal cut diamonds would be among the rarest of the world’s gemstones. Diamonds that aren't "ideal" still make lovely jewelry; they're just not perfect.
Things to consider when shopping for ideal cut diamonds
You’ve probably noticed something: The more you learn about diamonds, the more you can get lost in the details. But getting engaged is exceptional, and we want shopping for your loose diamond and engagement ring to be exceptional, too. To stay out of the weeds and walk away with the diamond of your dreams, here’s what you need to keep in mind while shopping for ideal cut diamonds.
Know which size you want before you start shopping
It’s easy to get caught up in the beauty of ideal cut diamonds as you're shopping. But the bigger the stone is, the higher the carat weight will be — and, correspondingly, so will the price tag. If you go in with your desired carat weight predetermined, you’ll save time (along with the inconvenience of choosing a ring that catches your eye but overdraws your bank account).
Be willing to sacrifice size for brilliance
All ideal cut diamonds shine brilliantly. But larger stones may stretch the light further, giving the diamond even light reflection throughout the entire pavilion. A smaller diamond might have more shine and sparkle, and therefore a greater impact than a diamond that's technically larger.
Remember how rare ideal cut diamonds really are
This one's all about priorities. How important is it to you that your diamond be ideal cut? We already know it's not available in all diamond shapes, but the ideal cut's rarity means that it may require some searching and waiting even in a princess or round cut. Start shopping early.
Are ideal cut diamonds worth it?
That depends on her priorities and personal style! If sparkle is her thing — and she loves the classic, traditional appeal of a princess cut, round cut, or brilliant cut diamond — an ideal cut diamond can be worth the price. You'll know you've purchased a diamond with the highest level of fire and brilliance.
Have more questions about ideal cut diamonds or diamond cut grades? Our expert on-staff gemologists are happy to walk you through the process. Contact one today.
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