• Why Cut Matters

    Cut refers not to a diamond’s shape, but to the precision of its proportions and facets. Even if a diamond has perfect colour and clarity, a poor cut will leave it looking dull. When cut to ideal proportions, light enters the diamond, bounces within, and returns to the eye as breathtaking sparkle.

    At À Vie, we recommend only Excellent and Very Good cuts, ensuring every diamond radiates brilliance from every angle.

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Excellent
Very Good
Good
Fair
Poor
Maximum Brilliance High Brilliance Good Brilliance Low Brilliance Poor Brilliance

Cut Grade: Excellent

Maximum Brilliance & Fire

Brilliance: Very high, bright across the whole face; minimal light leakage. Crisp on/off sparkle even in low light.

Fire: Strong and well-distributed; vivid spectral flashes that appear quickly as the stone moves.

Overall look: Sharp contrast pattern ("arrows" visible), lively in all lighting, great scintillation.

Understanding Diamond Brilliance: The cut of a diamond directly affects how light enters and exits the stone, determining its brilliance and fire. An excellent cut allows maximum light return, creating exceptional sparkle. Poor cuts can be too deep or too shallow, causing light to leak out the sides or bottom, resulting in a dull appearance with minimal brilliance.

Estimated Dimensions

Diamond carat weight directly affects how large a stone looks, but size also depends on shape and cut. Use this chart to compare different carat weights across popular diamond shapes and see how they measure in millimetres.

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Expert Insights on Diamond Cut

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) developed the world’s leading cut grading system for round brilliant diamonds. In this video, GIA experts explain how cut affects light performance and why cut is the single most important factor in determining a diamond’s sparkle.

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HOW CUT AFFECTS BRILLIANCE

Move the slider to see how diamond cut influences brightness, fire, and overall sparkle.