Benefits of an ideal cut are three-fold: The wearer is able to cherish the gem's fiery beauty every day of their lives. It is the most prized yet sentimental treasure that can be passed down to children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. History has shown that these rare diamonds have maintained more non-commodity value to the owner than any other possession. Not to mention their easy portability, and the fact that they constitute the world's most concentrated form of wealth. For more information on gem quality diamonds, see www.aurias.com. The other direction is for a cutter to facet for economy. As in every other industry, price is generally important to the consumer. In diamonds, it is the cutter who largely controls the economy of the gem. As seen in the rough diamond diagram at right, the cutter has one limitation in the proportions -- the width. Notice that there is plenty of depth. NEXT PAGE | The Relationship Between Cut and Carat 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 Ideal Cut Inferior Cut