Diamonds are quite ugly in their natural form. They are without shine or luster and look just like broken glass. Polishing and cutting has to be performed on a diamond before it becomes a thing of beauty.

Using saws, diamonds are cut into round shapes. Other shapes can be cut from the rounded shape such as heart shapes. The shape is not as important as the quality of the cutting that should be done. The diamond will not sparkle and shine well if it is poorly cut. Cutting of each and every facet of the diamond is important for the required geometrical shape, which will allow it to sparkle and shine. The whole diamond can also be cut into a particular shape such as a princess cut or an emerald cut diamond.

After the cutting is done, the diamond is placed in a dop, which is similar to a cup, with another diamond. A diamond is even strong enough to cut out corners of another diamond. After the cutting and shaping takes place, and following the smoothening of its edges in the dop, the diamond is polished on a diamond polishing wheel or a scaif.