Diamond Anatomy

Table

This can be found on top of the diamond and is a flat facet which is the largest on a cut diamond.

Crown

This is above the girdle at the top part of the diamond. A large flat area called the table and several facets make up the crown.

Girdle

The circumference of the diamond that creates a band around the edge of the diamond.

Pavilion

Below the girdle is the pavilion which is the bottom part of the diamond

Culet

This is occasionally added by cutters at the bottom of the diamond's pavilion. This tiny flat facet helps to protect the tip of the pavilion from getting chipped or damaged. Large culets were quite common in diamond's that were cut earlier in the century. Today most diamond's have either a small culet or none at all.

Depth

This is considered to be the distance between the culet and the table. Depth is measured in millimeters.

Crown angle

This is the angle where a diamond's bezel facets intersect the girdle plane. A diamonds dispersion or fire is caused by this gentle slope of facets that surround the table. When white light enters at the different angles it is then split into spectral hues and this makes lots of colours within the diamond. The crown angle also assists in making the diamond appear even more brilliant.

Table percentage

This represents a comparison between the diameter of the table facet and the diameter of the entire diamond. For example where a diamond has a 60% table it also has a table which is 60% as wide as the diamond's outline. A round diamond?s table percentage is calculated by dividing the diameter of the table (measured in millimeters) with the average girdle diameter. The table percentage is calculated for fancy shaped diamonds by dividing the width of the table (at the widest part of the diamond) with the millimeter width of the entire stone.

Facet

These are the smooth, flat faces that can be found on the surface of a diamond. The facets on a diamond allow light to both enter and reflect off its surface at different angles, which then creates the wonderful shine and dazzle that diamonds are famous for. The diagram below shows all the facets on a round brilliant cut diamond. A round brilliant diamond has 58 facets (or 57 if there is no culet).