Modern Diamond Cutting

One of the hardest substances on earth, only a diamond is hard enough to cut other diamonds. Polishing and mounting add brilliance to the stone and increase it's value. Diamond cutting can be traced back to the late Middle Ages. Prior to this time, diamonds were used in their natural octahedral state. The first improvements on nature's design involved a polishing of the crystal faces, which was called the "Point Cut". As further refinement progressed, one half of the crystal would be cut off, creating the "Table Cut". At the time, diamonds were valued primarily for their luster and hardness. Table Cut diamonds appeared black to the eye. The Modern Round Brilliant cut (below) is the culmination of several hundred years of experimentation and development