Symmetry Grade Guide

Symmetry grade measures how precisely the facets of the diamond align with each other and how centered the table is relative to the girdle. Poor symmetry can distort reflections inside the stone and slightly dull the sparkle. Symmetry tends to track closely with cut quality: stones cut with Excellent cut grades almost always have Excellent or Very Good symmetry, because a cutter producing ideal proportions generally aligns facets precisely too.

Like polish, symmetry is cheap at the top. The difference between Excellent and Very Good symmetry is usually a small premium on the final price, and the practical visual difference is negligible for most buyers. The more meaningful step is from Good down to Fair, where you start to see visible facet misalignment that can distort the classic hearts-and-arrows pattern in round brilliants and dull the internal reflections in fancy shapes.

Pair your symmetry choice with your cut grade. If you are buying an Excellent cut round brilliant, take Very Good or Excellent symmetry and skip the rest. Triple Excellent (Excellent on cut, polish and symmetry) is the premium benchmark and worth the small upgrade over Triple Very Good if your budget allows.