The GIA Cut Grading System applies to which diamonds?

• A. Fancy cut diamonds.
• B. All diamonds regardless of shape.
• C. Fancy colored diamonds.
• D. Round brilliant diamonds in all clarities across the D-to-Z color range.

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is that GIA’s Cut Grading System is built around how a round brilliant diamond handles light. It evaluates proportions, symmetry, and finish to judge how well the facets return light as brightness, fire, and scintillation. Because this system is standardized around the round brilliant shape, the official cut grade is published for round diamonds only and within the normal color range of D to Z. That makes the statement that the cut grade applies to round brilliant diamonds in all clarities across the D-to-Z color range the correct one. Fancy shapes and fancy-colored diamonds aren’t graded on this same round-cut scale, so they don’t receive the GIA round-cut grade.