DG-Octagonal Kite Cubic Zirconia: Pros, Cons & Fire

DG-Octagonal Kite is eight-fold, with a large octagonal table. Eight kites run from the girdle corners to the table, over triangles on the girdle flats, and the pavilion repeats the pattern in long kites. Our model has a 55.0% table, a 32.0° crown and a steep 43.0° pavilion, and is 70.0% deep.

It was drawn to keep emerald's light; in CZ, with a far higher refractive index, the steep kites hold even more. The cost of so few facets is sparkle.

Is DG-Octagonal Kite good in cubic zirconia? Pros and cons

Pros

More fire than the diamond version 92 vs 82

Cons

Heavy: deep and dense 2.05 vs 1.25 ct
Much less sparkle than the T73 60 vs 80
A little less light than the T73 in CZ 93 vs 98
Less steady than the diamond version 84 vs 89

Compared with the T73 Round Brilliant in cubic zirconia and with the DG-Octagonal Kite in diamond. A difference counts from 3 points (Brilliance, Fire, Tilt, Leakage), 5 (Scintillation, Symmetry), 2 (Spread) or 5% (weight); Tilt counts as a pro only for a stone within 5 points of the brilliance it is compared with. How we measure.

All eight scores against the T73

At a glance: the DG-Octagonal Kite in cubic zirconia (white) against the T73 Round Brilliant in cubic zirconia (dashed): solid white where it reaches further, hatched where it falls short. Each pro and con is explained, with pictures, below.

Against the T73 Round Brilliant in cubic zirconia: ahead on 2, level on 1, behind on 5.

Global89, the comparison 93, difference −4
Brilliance93, the comparison 98, difference −5
Fire92, the comparison 87, difference +5
Scintillation60, the comparison 80, difference −20
Spread96, the comparison 100, difference −4
Symmetry100, the comparison 100, difference 0
Shape-norm108, the comparison 106, difference +2
Tilt84, the comparison 87, difference −3

Face-up light census, a different measure from the Cut Grading Tool; Spread and Shape-norm above 100 sit on the ring.

Open it in the Cut Performance Wheel

What DG-Octagonal Kite gives cubic zirconia

More fire than the diamond version

Fire 92 against 82 for the DG-Octagonal Kite in diamond: 10 points higher

Large kites and CZ's stronger dispersion make broad flashes of colour, more than the diamond render shows. It beats the T73 in CZ too, 87.

Dg-octagonal kite in cubic zirconia face-up under a single bright light: a render from our simulator, its coloured flashes are the fire (score 92) — Look at the coloured flashes: those are fire. Same light, same size, same face-up angle; rendered by our 3D Gemstone Simulator from each cut's own model.

Dg-octagonal kite in diamond face-up under a single bright light: a render from our simulator, its coloured flashes are the fire (score 82) — Look at the coloured flashes: those are fire. Same light, same size, same face-up angle; rendered by our 3D Gemstone Simulator from each cut's own model.

Try it yourself: See the fire in the 3D Gemstone Simulator

The catch with a DG-Octagonal Kite CZ

Heavy: deep and dense

2.05 ct at 6.5 mm, against 1.25 ct for the same cut in diamond (+65%)

At 70.0% deep this is the deepest cut on our CZ pages, and CZ adds 65% over diamond: 6.5 mm comes to 2.05 ct.

A DG-Octagonal Kite 6.5 mm across, weighed from the model's measured volume and each stone's specific gravity.

What helps: Check the setting depth; buy it by size.

Try it yourself: Weights in all seven gemstones on the DG-Octagonal Kite page

Much less sparkle than the T73

Scintillation 60 against 80 for the T73 Round Brilliant in cubic zirconia: 20 points lower

With 41 facets against the T73's 73, the kite plan breaks the light into few, large flashes. Our scintillation score follows the count.

DG-Octagonal Kite · 41 facets · Scintillation 60

T73 Round Brilliant · 73 facets · Scintillation 80

Scintillation follows the number of facets: more facets, more and smaller flashes as the stone moves. Count the facets in each crown. Drawn from each cut's own model.

What helps: This is the plan, not the angles. For fine sparkle and still more light, a round: DG-Miliano Cubic Zirconia scores 98 for scintillation.

Try it yourself: Compare the Scintillation spoke in the Cut Performance Wheel

A little less light than the T73 in CZ

Brilliance 93 against 98 for the T73 Round Brilliant in cubic zirconia: 5 points lower

93 is the best of our non-round cuts in CZ; the T73 is simply exceptional here. The gap is real but narrow.

Dg-octagonal kite in cubic zirconia face-up Light Return map: red, green and blue show where the light returns from, grey shows where it leaks (Brilliance 93) — Red, green and blue = light returning to the eye; grey = light leaving through the pavilion. This is the head-on view; the Brilliance score averages a wider cone of light, so the score can differ from what one picture shows.

T73 round brilliant in cubic zirconia face-up Light Return map: red, green and blue show where the light returns from, grey shows where it leaks (Brilliance 98) — Red, green and blue = light returning to the eye; grey = light leaving through the pavilion. This is the head-on view; the Brilliance score averages a wider cone of light, so the score can differ from what one picture shows.

What helps: The T73 Round Brilliant Cubic Zirconia returns 98, if a round will do.

Try it yourself: Open this Light Return map in the simulator

Less steady than the diamond version

Tilt 84 against 89 for the DG-Octagonal Kite in diamond: 5 points lower

Tipped, the CZ keeps 84 of its face-up light, the diamond 89. A lower index lets slanting light find the way out sooner.

Dg-octagonal kite in cubic zirconia tilted 0 degrees: Light Return map, 4% of the face leaking — Tilt is how much of its own face-up light a stone keeps when tilted. Each frame is the Light Return map with the stone tilted away from you by the angle shown; grey is light leaving through the pavilion. The share under each frame is that picture's own.

Dg-octagonal kite in cubic zirconia tilted 10 degrees: Light Return map, 11% of the face leaking — Tilt is how much of its own face-up light a stone keeps when tilted. Each frame is the Light Return map with the stone tilted away from you by the angle shown; grey is light leaving through the pavilion. The share under each frame is that picture's own.

What helps: DG-Miliano Cubic Zirconia holds 90 when tilted in CZ.

Try it yourself: Compare the Tilt spoke in the Cut Performance Wheel

Who a DG-Octagonal Kite CZ suits

Choose it for a bold, symmetrical centre stone with big flashes of colour and nearly a round's light. In CZ it is the fancy shape we would pick for brightness.

If you want fine sparkle, a round: DG-Vitruvio Cubic Zirconia or DG-Miliano Cubic Zirconia. For a softer square outline, the Cushion Cut Cubic Zirconia.

Its 70.0% depth needs a setting with room below the girdle.

Against the same cut in diamond, the CZ is ahead on light (93 against 88) and on fire, and a little behind on steadiness when tipped.

DG-Octagonal Kite Cubic Zirconia: questions

Is DG-Octagonal Kite good for cubic zirconia?

Yes for light and fire: Brilliance 93 and Fire 92. Its sparkle is low, 60 against 80 for the T73.

What is the brightest non-round cut in CZ?

Of the cuts we measure, DG-Octagonal Kite at 93, ahead of the Cushion at 88.

How heavy is a 6.5 mm DG-Octagonal Kite CZ?

2.05 ct; the same stone in diamond would be 1.25 ct.

Does DG-Octagonal Kite sparkle in CZ?

Not much: 41 facets give scintillation 60, against 80 for the T73. Its flashes are few and large.

Get the DG-Octagonal Kite Cut files

6 formatsMillimetresWatertight

DG-Octagonal Kite Cut 3D files

The DG-Octagonal Kite Cut as exact geometry: 41 planar facets, real-world scale, ready for CAD, rendering, printing and casting.

STEPExact faceted solid for CAD
3DMRhino, closed mesh on its own layer
STLWatertight mesh for printing and casting
OBJMesh for modelling and rendering
FBXBlender, 3ds Max, Maya, Cinema 4D, Unity, Unreal
GLBWeb, AR and quick previews

€9.99 · Personal useBuy the 3D files

GemCad96 index

DG-Octagonal Kite Cut cutting files

The DG-Octagonal Kite Cut as a faceting design: 33 + 8 girdles = 41 facets, 96 index, 8-fold mirror-image symmetry, ready for the machine.

.ascGemCad design file, 96 index gear
.csvTier table: angles, indices and cutting order
DiagramPrintable faceting diagram

€9.99 · Personal useBuy the cutting files

Questions before you buy? Email us.

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Cubic Zirconia: optical properties and the top ten cuts · The DG-Octagonal Kite: specifications, model and files

DG-Octagonal Kite Cubic Zirconia: more fire than diamond, and the brightest fancy shape here