This tutorial aims to explain what yaw is, why it occurs, how it occurs, how to detect it, and how it affects the appearance of a diamond. I will also try to clear up the confusion regarding this topic in relation to the terms yaw, twist, distortion, and azimuth shift. What is Facet Yaw? Facet yaw, a term coined by Brian Gavin, is a type of facet distortion that can occur … [Read more...]
Hearts and Arrows Formation
Understanding hearts and arrows formation allows you to have a better appreciation of the cutting precision that is required to form it. I will take you through exactly which facets are responsible for which part of the pattern. If you are seeking an H&A for its perfection, then it this is important for you to be able to analyse the H&A images to determine in detail the … [Read more...]
Diamond Symmetry and Polish
I would like to credit the GIA because I learned a lot from these two research articles that you can find here and here. In 2012, the GIA updated their rules on grading the following 10 different symmetry parameters: Out-of-round Table off-center Culet off-center Table/culet alignment Table size variation Girdle thickness variation Crown height … [Read more...]
Hearts and Arrows
Hearts and arrows (H&A) refer to the 8 arrows that can be seen from the top and the 8 hearts that can be seen from the bottom of a well-cut round brilliant diamond. But while many people will have heard of hearts and arrows before, most people probably don't know what to look for in a good hearts and arrows diamond. In fact, there's no official industry standard for hearts … [Read more...]