Brilliant (diamond cut)

A diamond ( from French brillant, shiny ',' bright ') is a diamond with a special touch. The two terms " diamond " and " brilliant " but are often used incorrectly as synonyms.

The cut is called brilliant cut was developed around 1910. It is characterized by high brilliance.

Additional information at diamonds as "real", etc. are not allowed, as they are misleading. While it is possible - and not uncommon - to process other gems or imitations brilliant-cut, but they must then be duly identified (eg " zirconia brilliant-cut ").

In German, the common misspelling Brilliant is aligned with the English. The German word comes from the French brilliant, shiny ' to berillus Latin, Greek bêrillos, beryl '.

Features of the brilliant cut

Features of the modern brilliant cut (also called full diamond ) are a cut with a circular girdle, at least 32 facets plus panel in the upper part, at least 24 facets plus any culet in the lower part. It was developed in 1910 from the so-called old-cut of the previous century. There are different variants today. Here are some of the prevailing:

• Tolkowsky Brilliant, established in 1919 by Marcel Tolkowsky. Very good light yield. Valid in the United States as the basis of Schliffgraduierung.
• Ideal Brilliant, established in 1926 by Johnson and Roesch. Contrary to its name by no means ideal, since its proportions seem too bulky.
• Parker Bright, established in 1951. Having a good light yield, but because of a relatively flat upper part with low color splitting ( by dispersion ) what (fire) leads to a lack of colors.
• Scandinavian standard Brilliant, established in 1968. As the name suggests, it is in Scandinavia, the basis for graduation.
• Finishing touches to the practice, established in 1938 by Eppler and Klüppelberg. This to a large number of proportion based measurements sanding is based in Germany graduation.

Brilliant Cut and carat number

Due to the substantially fixed proportion in the diamonds, it is possible to determine the approximate weight based on the diameter.

Formula:

The development of the brilliant cut

The diamond since at least 2000 years is already as a gemstone use, but a specific processing began only in the 14th century. First, however, the natural crystal faces were polished only to increase the optical effect. This - still largely left in its natural form - the first diamond cut was, according to its characteristics, pointed stone called.

By removing or abrading the Oktaederspitzen is soon produced a large additional area on the top (plate ) and a little to the bottom ( or rib culet ) resulting in the so-called thick stone or stone panel.

Since the end of the 15th century put it, thanks to the development of the grinding wheel, more and more additional facets to. A stone with 34 surfaces (32 facets plus table and culet ) as well rounded, even if not circular, floor plan ( girdle ) first developed - around 1650, was - according to tradition, at the suggestion of the French Cardinal Mazarin. These two times Good or Mazarin -cut shape was called the end of the 17th century by the Venetian gem cutters Peruzzi their increase in the so-called three times good or Peruzzi -cut. This already had all the facets and also similar proportions of the later diamond - ground joint. But even the old mine, the immediate precursor of the modern brilliant diamonds, the circular body is not yet implemented. This was done only at the beginning of the 20th century.

Since the diamond, especially in a jewelry worthy quality, because is very expensive and rare at great expense to winning raw material, was and is, of course, you always strive to work as efficiently as possible while grinding. This means that you tried the highest possible optical patterns with minimal loss of material - to achieve effect - and thus value-enhancing.

Other gems in brilliant cut

In the 1970s, the zirconia diamonds (synthetic Fianit, ZKS ) caused a sensation, which are a surprisingly good imitation of diamond brilliants. They are relatively easy to distinguish by their low thermal conductivity.

Also, the moissanite is working brilliant-cut, its crystal structure allows these touches. He then something even more brilliant because its refractive index is significantly higher than the diamond - brilliant. A distinction is to diamonds in aggregate form but difficult. The price for Moissanite is low, and they are produced synthetically since 1979 (C3 Inc., North Carolina) and have been since 1998 on the market to find, mostly as small commodity.