• Account
  • Basket
  • Search
  • Diamonds
  • Gemstones
  • Jewellery
  • Famous Jewels
  • Latest
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
Diamond Buzz Logo
Single Cut Diamonds Vs Full Cut Diamonds
Diamonds

Single Cut Diamonds vs Full Cut Diamonds

FacebookPinterestLinkedInEmail

Last updated on December 26, 2022

The terms single cut and full cut are relatively unknown among the buyers, so deciding between them is not usually a major decision. However, knowing the difference gives you a greater appreciation of the round cut diamond and allows saving some money. Let’s see how single cut diamonds vs full cut diamonds compare.

What Are Single Cut Diamonds?

Single Cut Diamond Facet Arrangement | Diamond Buzz
Image © Diamond Buzz. All rights reserved.

Single cut, also known as single cut melee, refers to the type of faceting of round diamonds typically used in pavé jewellery. Such diamonds usually weigh less than 0.10 carats or 10 pointers and have 17 facets in total. Classic single cut diamonds feature an 8/8 facet arrangement, 8 facets on the crown (top) and 8 facets on the pavilion (bottom), plus a larger table facet for a total of 17 facets. That is why they are also referred to as eight-cut diamonds, and huit huit cut diamonds from the French “huit”, meaning eight.

Historically, single cut diamonds were used in jewellery from the 19th up to the first half of the 20th century, when it became possible to cut smaller diamonds with a larger number of facets due to newer cutting tools and technological advancements.

In the 1970s, a new transitional cut of the diamond melee was created in Antwerp, Belgium. This cut doubled the number of facets of the classic single cut and featured a 16/16 facet arrangement. However, 16/16 melee had a much shorter period of popularity, and by the mid, the to late 1980s, almost all melee production moved to a new standard, full-cut diamonds.

What Are Full Cut Diamonds?

Full Cut Diamond Facet Arrangement | Diamond Buzz
Image © Diamond Buzz. All rights reserved.

Full cut diamonds, also known as round brilliant cut melee, are round stones having 57 or 58 facets. They are a replica of larger round brilliant cut diamonds. The fact is, round brilliant cut diamonds are shaped into single cuts first, and then additional facets are introduced, making the stone into a full cut diamond.

It is worth mentioning that diamond melee can be cut into a round shape and have fewer facets than standard 57 or 58. However, in such a case, the stone will not be considered a true full cut diamond.

Single Cut Diamonds vs Full Cut Diamonds

In the diamond melee, the visual difference between single cut and full cut is subtle. However, the light refraction in full cut diamonds is much greater due to the larger number of facets, 57 or 58, compared to 17. This means single cut diamonds are less brilliant and fiery.

As for the prices, lower quality single cut diamond melee is more affordable than full cut stones because fewer facets take less manufacturing time, labour and resources to produce. This type of melee is usually sourced from recycled vintage jewellery and inexpensive single cut stone manufacturers.

The picture changes when it comes to high-quality D-E-F colour and IF-VVS clarity single cut diamonds as precision cut single cut stones are a rarity in the modern-day, and they are highly prized in the high-end watchmaking industry. The scarcity of these stones combined with the strong demand makes high-quality single cut diamonds more valuable compared to the full cut variety.

Post navigation

The History of Posy Rings
Blue Diamonds Buying Guide
  • How To Choose A Diamond Pendant | Diamond BuzzHow to Choose a Diamond Pendant
    Jewellery

Advertise on Diamond Buzz

Unlock the brilliance of your brand with Diamond Buzz advertising solutions.

Newsletter

Get the latest news, promotions, and insider insights delivered to your inbox.

By entering your email address, you consent to receive our latest news and exclusive offers. You may withdraw your consent at any time. Please read our Privacy Policy for more details.

Please check your inbox to confirm your subscription.

  • Contact
  • About
  • Advertising
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Accessibility
  • Cookie Settings
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
© 2018 - 2023 Diamond Buzz. All Rights Reserved.
Cressida Pro by LyraThemes.com

We use cookies to personalise your user experience and analyse our website traffic. By clicking 'Accept All', you consent to the use of all the cookies.

Privacy Policy    Settings    Accept All

Cookie Settings

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are essential for the proper functioning of the website. This category includes cookies that ensure the basic functionalities and security features of the site. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Functional
Functional cookies serve to enable specific functionalities, such as sharing website content on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and facilitating other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyse the website's key performance indicators, contributing to an enhanced user experience for visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to gain insights into how visitors interact with the website. These cookies assist in providing information on various metrics, such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic sources, and more.
CookieDurationDescription
_ga2 yearsThis cookie is set by Google Analytics to calculate visitor, session and campaign data and also keep track of site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognize unique visitors.
_ga_SGEW9HERE92 yearsThis cookie is set by Google Analytics.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those currently under analysis and have not yet been classified into a specific category.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Powered by CookieYes Logo
Basket
Your basket is empty.
Continue Shopping