Diamond FAQs – How Are Diamonds Cut?
Diamonds are the hardest natural substance known to man. On the Mohs Scale of Hardness they score 10, which is the top rating. Nothing scores higher. So how on Earth are diamonds cut? Cutting is the process which transforms the rough gemstone into a certain shape. Cutting allows the luster and color to be brought out, and gives the gemstone its fire and sparkle. But in its journey through the cutting process to become a sparkling faceted gemstone, a rough diamond can easily lose up to 60% of its weight! Most cutting techniques were developed centuries ago. They are still used today because they are the most effective way of cutting a diamond, although some of the tools have been refined into precision instruments over the years! And for every diamond cut, a skilled cutter will use several processes to get the desired shape. Two of the most common ways of cutting a rough diamond include cleaving and grinding. Cleaving is an ancient technique and it involves a great deal of skill. A diam
