History of Brilliance

Beyond the 4 C's

1919
Mr. Marcel Tolkowsky confirms the two dimensional parameters for ideal proportions for modern round brilliant diamonds.

1930
Lazare Kaplan (First cousin to M. Tolkowsky) begins cutting diamonds to Tolkowsky ideal proportions.

1931
M. Robert Shipley founds the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).

1934
M. Shipley and other leading jewelers create the American Gem Society (AGS).

1939
GIA launch the Gem Trade Laboratories (GTL) issuing diamond certificates for color, clarity & carat weight which are still used today.

1946
Robert Shipley makes the distinction between brilliance and scintillation in the GIA course material.

1953
Richard T. Liddicoat develops and refines a complete grading system for diamonds that include a system for evaluating cut.

1957
Richard T. Liddicoat sketch a new classification system or diamond cut.

1960's
AGS develops 0-10 scale for grading diamond cut.

1980
AGS revises and updates their cut grading scale.

1984
Mr. Shigetomi from Japan creates the FireScope which can show light leakage and symmetry in diamonds.

1985
Originating from Japan, 65 years after Mr. Marcel Tolkowsky, EightStar creates the first three dimensionally ideal cut diamond.

1988
Inspired by the EightStar diamond, Hearts and Arrows cut diamonds appear in Japan.

1989
GIA uses computer graphics and data analysis technologies to calculate and evaluate the optical performance of Round Brilliant Cut Diamonds.

1995
The first spectrophotometer showing the brilliance and dispersion of a diamond is developed and patented by Lambdaspec Instruments..

1996
AGS launches their own gem lab and within a short time markets diamond certificates with a cut grading in addition to color and clarity grading.

1996
Following the success of Hearts and Arrows cut in Japan, Hearts on Fire Diamonds brand is launched in America.

1997
Diamond Profile Laboratory launches first diamond certificate which attempt to measure BRILLIANCE: Light Return, Reflective Symmetry, Light Dispersion and Polish. Definition of Brillance.

1998
GIA publishes the first part of optical performance in Round Brilliant Cut Diamonds, starting with Brilliance (white light return).

2000
EightStar improves the original FireScope, showing light return origins, in addition to light leakage and symmetry of diamonds.

2001-2002
GIA publishes the second and third part of their optical performance study in Round Brilliant Cut Diamonds with their initial results on Fire (Dispersed Color Light) and Scintillation.

2002
Overseas Diamonds Co. from Antwerp, Belgium, launch the Isee2 beauty evaluator which measure brilliance, scintillation and symmetry with web connection Isee2.com.