What is a brilliant cut and why is it considered the most beautiful?

The brilliant cut is a true legend in the world of jewelry. It's what gives a diamond life—it reflects light with thousands of sparks that attract the eye and evoke emotions. But what exactly is a brilliant, and why has it been considered a paragon of beauty for centuries?

Cut and diamond – what is worth knowing?

A diamond is a mineral. A brilliant, on the other hand, is a diamond that has been cut in a specific way – a brilliant cut. This type of cut has 57 or 58 facets (small, flat surfaces), the arrangement of which is not random. This geometric precision is designed to ensure the diamond reflects and disperses light as effectively as possible.

Play of light – the magic of a diamond

The secret to a brilliant cut lies in its proportions. Carefully chosen angles and symmetry allow light entering the stone to reflect within and return upward, creating an intensely brilliant effect. Professionally, this is defined by three aspects:

brilliance – brightness, i.e. the amount of reflected light,
fire – colorful dispersion of rays,
scintillation – the play of light when the stone moves.

Tolkowsky's Revolution

The modern brilliant cut was invented by mathematician and gemologist Marcel Tolkowsky, who published his work "Diamond Design" in 1919. He calculated the ideal proportions and angles of facets so that the diamond would fully utilize the phenomena of light refraction and dispersion. This gave the diamond its legendary brilliance—a math translated into beauty.

Tiffany and the Birth of a Symbol

The Tolkowsky cut was soon popularized by the American jewelry house Tiffany & Co. It was Tiffany who made the diamond engagement ring an icon—a symbol of love and a lifelong commitment. Since then, the brilliant cut has become virtually synonymous with the engagement ring worldwide.