Anatomy of Diamond

No matter what type of diamond cut you purchase for your jewellery, they will all share the same anatomical characteristics. This is referred to as the anatomy of a diamond, and it has undergone a massive amount of research in developing its theory to this point. While the ideal diamond anatomy measurements differ in each cut, the terminology and general structure are all identical.

A diamond will possess five aspects of its anatomy: The table, the crown, a girdle, the pavilion, and a culet. Each of these specifically refers to a certain part of the diamond. The diamond facets in the cut can be found in each of these areas, apart from a culet, which can be modified to feature a single facet for stylistic purposes. Below, we’ve gone through each aspect, using the famous round brilliant cut as an example.

Table

The table is the top surface of the diamond and comprises one facet - the largest facet that you can find. It is always flat, and largely forms the proportions of the size of the actual stone itself. The table in a round cut is the most important feature of the diamond, as it is here where the renowned fire and brilliance of the cut’s shape is most clearly seen.

Crown

The crown is the top “half” of the diamond, comprising facets from just below the table to just above the girdle. The crown is given a lot of attention from professional diamond cutters, who look to maximise its physical attraction and brilliance. 32 of the 57 facets of a round brilliant can be found here, or just over 42% of the total amount of facets in the round cut.

Girdle

The girdle is the outermost point of the diamond from its centre and joins the crown and the pavilion together. The girdle can come in various forms; from thick to thin, smooth to rough, and can also be faceted for the style. In round brilliants, it is recommended to purchase a girdle which isn’t too thin, as this makes the stone more susceptible to chipping.

Pavilion

The bottom part of the stone, from the girdle downwards, is known as the pavilion. The pavilion is highly important for both fire and brilliance to shine through. A well-constructed pavilion should disperse the light, rather than refract it, creating the light effect that diamonds are renowned for. The round brilliant will have 24 facets incorporated into its design.

Culet

The culet is the bottommost point of the diamond. The culet is a highly contentious part of the diamond, revolving around the option to have a facet located at this point. While there is an argument that a culet facet is a defect, as it creates a shadow within the diamond, there is also a trend for buying diamonds with a fashioned culet, purely on style.