“Diamond” derives from “adámas” in Greek, which means “unbreakable”. This is because it is the hardest stone in existence, and ranks at the top on the Mohs scale. This does not mean diamonds cannot be broken though. The facet functions of your precious gem can become abraded from something as simple as everyday wear and tear. Even the luster of a stone can diminish with time as scratches accumulate on its exterior. Need for Re-Cutting and Re-Polishing Both re-cutting and re-polishing perform the same purpose; restoring the beautiful appearance of a once stellar diamond. The difference between them lies in the technical scope. Re-polishing is usually done for correction of minor damages such as nicks, finishing, and scratches. The resulting weight loss is always minimal. Re-cutting is different in that it is done to diamonds that have sustained serious damage, and require nothing less than an overhaul. You can re-cut an old estate diamond into a modern style, for instance. This procedure can also remove severe chips, which has the possibility of webbing, spreading, and splitting the diamond. It is important to assess the financial viability of either before you decide to go through with the procedure.