Incredible brilliance and incomparable beauty are the hallmarks of a diamond. These factors are heightened when the condition of its faceting, known as “diamond polish” in the industry, is smooth, defined, and unblemished. With a high polish grade, a diamond will reflect more light and hence sparkle more brilliantly.

The 4Cs – Polish and Symmetry

Though polish is just one more factor to take into account when you’re shopping for diamond engagement rings, it’s an important one because it has an impact on the value of your stone.

What Is Polish?

Polish refers to a finished diamond’s faceted surfaces. It is one of the final detailing elements of a diamond. It is also another criterion that the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) uses to judge the overall quality of a diamond. Each finished diamond is examined to make sure that the edges are defined and that the facets are smooth and unblemished. A good polish lacks nicks, pits (tiny holes), scratches, and a host of other issues that could occur while the diamond is at the polishing wheel. Typically, these faults cannot be seen with the naked eye and are only visible with the aid of 10x magnification.

Diamond Education, Image of Diamond Polish

How Is Polish Graded?

The GIA, the world’s most trusted independent source for gemological information and education, rates diamond polish on a scale with grades of Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, or Poor. Polish is judged with other metrics, including the symmetry of the diamond’s facets, to determine the standard of care taken during the diamond-cutting process.

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What Is The Difference Between Polish, Symmetry, and Cut?

The GIA uses the same grading terms (Excellent to Poor) for polish, symmetry, and cut. However, polish, symmetry, and cut are not interchangeable terms, nor do they carry equal importance when it comes to determining a diamond’s overall quality.

A polish grade establishes the surface condition of the faceting in a finished diamond. A symmetry grade accounts for the arrangement and conformity of facets in a finished diamond. Cut grades rate the proportions and angles of a diamond, factors that most affect the stone’s ability to reflect and refract light.

Cut is one of the 4Cs (along with color, clarity, and carat weight), which are the main standards of a diamond’s worth. While the GIA’s polish and symmetry grades are important, they are not equivalent to the grade of the cut, which is the most important of these three factors.

Our Polish Grades

For fancy shapes, which is the term used for shapes other than Round Brilliant, Kwiat diamonds feature GIA polish grades of either Excellent or Very Good. The subtle differences between these two grades are generally invisible to the unassisted eye and do not have a substantial impact on their quality.

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