ABOUT DIAMOND DEPTH PERCENTAGE

Learn about Depth Percentage

 The depth of a diamond is very important to its brilliance and value. A diamond that is cut to Ideal or near Ideal depth percentage exhibits a balance of brilliance and is more valuable. Diamond cutters must remove more weight from the original rough diamond crystal to cut a diamond with proportions that produce great brilliance.
 

The facets on the bottom of a round brilliant cut diamond are called pavilion facets. When you look at a round brilliant face-up the pavilion facets act as mirrors which reflect the image of the table, the large facet on the top of the diamond. This white table reflection seen within the center of the diamond indicates how beautiful and brilliant the diamond will be. 


In a very fine to Ideal cut diamond the diamond will exhibit a white table reflection that appears in the center of the table. This reflection should be 1/4 to 1/2 the size of the large table facet on top of the diamond. (See diagrams below of Ideal/Very Fine Cut).
 
Depth Percentages are shown below.
Depth Percentage of 59% to 63% = Ideal / Very Fine Cut

56.0% = Girdle reflection seen in table
57.0% = Table reflection 7/8 size of table
58.0% = Table reflection 3/4 size of table
59.0%= Table reflection 1/2 size of table
61.0%= Table reflection 1/3 size of table
62.0%= Table reflection 1/4 size of table
64.0%= Table reflection 1/8 size of table
66.0%= Dark table facet
67.0%= Dark table and star facets

Diamonds are very rarely cut to exactly a 61% depth percentages. Fine cut diamonds have total depth percentages between 59% and 63%. Diamonds within this range provide excellent brilliance. Diamonds that have depths outside these ranges cost less, but a degree of brilliance is lost as depth moves away from the preferred 59% - 63% depth percentage range