DCA DCA Diamond Cutting & Polish Techniques 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which cutting style features long, rectangular facets arranged in parallel rows?
- Step cut (Correct answer)
- Brilliant cut
- Mixed cut
- Rose cut
Correct answer: Step cut
Step cuts feature rows of parallel, rectangular facets that resemble the steps of a staircase, emphasizing clarity over brilliance.
Question 2: What is 'symmetry' as a grade category in diamond cutting?
- How precisely the facets align and balance with each other (Correct answer)
- The brightness of reflected white light
- The intensity of spectral colors seen in the stone
- The ratio of depth to diameter
Correct answer: How precisely the facets align and balance with each other
Symmetry refers to the exactness of the diamond's outline and the placement, shape, and alignment of its facets relative to one another.
Question 3: What is the 'fire' of a diamond caused by?
- Dispersion of white light into spectral colors (Correct answer)
- Total internal reflection of light
- The smoothness of the cut facets
- Fluorescence under ultraviolet light
Correct answer: Dispersion of white light into spectral colors
Fire refers to the flashes of spectral color (rainbow colors) produced by a diamond's ability to disperse white light into its component wavelengths.
Question 4: In a round brilliant cut, what are 'kite-shaped' facets on the crown called?
- Bezel facets (Correct answer)
- Star facets
- Upper girdle facets
- Pavilion facets
Correct answer: Bezel facets
Bezel facets are the large kite-shaped facets on the crown of a round brilliant that surround the table.
Question 5: What cutting defect occurs when the culet is too large and appears as a dark circle when viewed from above?
- Open or large culet (Correct answer)
- Bearding
- Natural
- Nick
Correct answer: Open or large culet
A large culet creates an 'open culet' effect that appears as a dark circle visible through the table when viewed face-up, which can reduce the diamond's appeal.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes 'scintillation' in a diamond?
- The pattern of light and dark areas seen when the diamond moves (Correct answer)
- The overall brightness of the stone under direct light
- The dispersion of light into rainbow colors
- The proportion ratio of the stone's depth to diameter
Correct answer: The pattern of light and dark areas seen when the diamond moves
Scintillation describes the sparkle (flashes of light) and the pattern of light and dark areas visible when a diamond, the observer, or the light source moves.
DCA DCA Diamond Cutting & Polish Techniques 2
Which cutting style features long, rectangular facets arranged in parallel rows?