Heartcutting

Heartcutting is a term used in diamond grading and the diamond industry to describe a specific practice in the cutting process of rough diamonds. When a rough diamond is being analyzed and planned for cutting, certain portions of the rough crystal may be removed or separated from the main, highest-quality gem material. This removed portion is often referred to as the "heart" or "heartcutting."

The decision to heartcut is typically made for several reasons. It might be done to eliminate inclusions, blemishes, or other imperfections that are located in a specific area of the rough diamond. By removing these less desirable parts, the cutter aims to maximize the clarity and overall quality of the remaining diamond. Alternatively, a heartcut might be performed if a significant portion of the rough diamond exhibits a different color or lower quality that would detract from the value of the primary gem.

The material that is heartcut can vary. It might be a small, insignificant piece, or it could be a larger section of the rough stone. In some cases, the heartcut material may still contain valuable diamond, but it is deemed unsuitable for inclusion in the main, high-grade gem. This material might then be processed separately for smaller diamonds, industrial applications, or sold as lower-grade rough. The practice is a crucial step in optimizing the yield and quality of cut diamonds from a given rough stone.