What is a full-cut brilliant diamond?
Last updated 17 October 2026
A full-cut brilliant uses the standard round brilliant arrangement of 57 facets, or 58 when a culet facet is present. A single-cut diamond has a simpler 17-or-18-facet arrangement. Both terms describe cutting designs; facet count alone does not establish a stone’s cut quality or how much it will sparkle.
Frequently asked questions
- How many facets does a full-cut brilliant have?
- It has 57 or 58 facets: the difference is whether a culet facet is present. A pointed diamond without that extra facet can still be a full-cut brilliant.
- What is the difference between a full-cut and a single-cut brilliant?
- A full cut uses 57 or 58 facets; a single cut uses 17 or 18. These are different facet arrangements often discussed in small diamonds. Their appearance also depends on dimensions, workmanship and lighting, so the counts are not a universal sparkle ranking.
- Is a full-cut brilliant the same as a round brilliant?
- In this context, full cut refers to the standard round brilliant arrangement rather than the simplified single-cut arrangement. It does not mean that a culet facet must be present.
Sources and further reading
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