How are color grades assigned to fancy cuts?

• A. They are graded by looking face-up only.
• B. To color grade fancy cuts, graders look at them face-down and diagonally, and also consider face-up color.
• C. Color grading ignores orientation.
• D. They are graded by weight alone.

Answer: (B)

Color distribution in fancy cuts isn’t uniform because the facet layout can concentrate or disperse color in different directions. Graders examine color from multiple orientations to get an accurate sense of how the stone will look in real life. Looking face-down helps reveal color that may show up in pavilion facets, which can appear muted or hidden when viewed from the top. Evaluating diagonally lets the grader sweep across the long facets and edge areas where color bias can occur, catching patterns you might miss from a single view. In addition, face-up color is considered because that’s how the stone will be seen by someone looking at it, especially when worn. Combining those views provides a more complete and reliable assessment of the fancy cut’s color. Relying on a single orientation or on weight alone would miss how color shifts with viewing angle.