RINOVA Diamond Guide
Diamond Cut
Of all the 4Cs, cut has the biggest impact on a diamond's sparkle. It measures how well the facets return light to your eye — as brilliance, fire and scintillation.
Cut Grades
A well-cut diamond outshines a larger one with a poor cut. If you spend extra on one thing, spend it here.
FairGoodVery GoodExcellent
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Excellent / Ideal — maximum light return and sparkle; our recommended grade.
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Very Good — excellent brilliance at slightly better value; the eye rarely tells the difference.
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Good — reflects most light; a budget-friendly choice.
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Fair — noticeably less sparkle; we do not stock it.
What Cut Actually Measures
Three things happening at once, every time light hits the stone.
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Brilliance — the white light returned straight back to your eye.
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Fire — the flashes of rainbow colour as light splits inside the stone.
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Scintillation — the sparkle that moves as the diamond, or you, moves.
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Proportions — cut too deep and light escapes the bottom; too shallow and it leaks out the side. Either way the stone looks dull, whatever its colour or clarity grade.
Why Cut Matters Most
Colour and clarity describe what a diamond is made of, but cut determines how it performs. It is also the only C that is entirely down to human skill — and the only one that cannot be corrected afterwards. That is why we treat cut as the foundation of every RINOVA stone.