DG-Octagonal Kite Moissanite: plenty of fire from a cut drawn for emerald

Brilliance 71 · Fire 95 · Scintillation 60 · in our census, where the T73 scores 86 · 97 · 80 in moissanite

Drawn for emerald, measured in moissanite: the kites throw strong colour, but with only 41 facets the sparkle is sparse, and the light trails the diamond version.

The DG-Octagonal Kite in moissanite, rendered at an angle in our 3D Gemstone Simulator under studio light
Rendered in our 3D Gemstone Simulator from the DG-Octagonal Kite model, 1.00 ct, studio light.

DG-Octagonal Kite Moissanite

DG-Octagonal Kite has a large octagonal table. Eight kites run from the girdle corners to the table edges over eight triangles on the girdle flats, and the pavilion repeats the pattern in long kites that close to a point. Our model: 41 facets, a 55.0% table, a 32.0° crown, a 43.0° pavilion, 70.0% deep.

It was drawn for emerald, with the pavilion kites set clear of emerald's critical angle. In moissanite the pavilion stands well above the 39.5° guide minimum, and the census gives it strong fire and a Tilt of 100. That tilt is not a pro: its brilliance is too far below the T73's for the steadiness to count.

The diamond version returns 88 for brilliance, more than this design gives in moissanite, and that is the gap we count.

DG-Octagonal Kite in moissanite: good or not? Pros and cons

Compared with the T73 Round Brilliant in moissanite 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 moissanite (white) against the T73 Round Brilliant in moissanite (dashed): solid white where it reaches further, hatched where it falls short. Each pro and con is explained, with pictures, below.

Performance wheel: DG-Octagonal Kite in moissanite, against the T73 Round Brilliant in moissanite as an outline. Solid white marks where it reaches further, hatching where it falls short. The scores are listed below.50100Global−7Brilliance−15Fire−2Scintillation−20Spread−4Symmetry0Shape-norm−11Tilt+6

Against the T73 Round Brilliant in moissanite: ahead on 1, level on 1, behind on 6.

  • Global84, the comparison 91, difference −7
  • Brilliance71, the comparison 86, difference −15
  • Fire95, the comparison 97, difference −2
  • Scintillation60, the comparison 80, difference −20
  • Spread96, the comparison 100, difference −4
  • Symmetry100, the comparison 100, difference 0
  • Shape-norm82, the comparison 93, difference −11
  • Tilt100, the comparison 94, difference +6
Face-up light census, a different measure from the Cut Grading Tool; Spread and Shape-norm above 100 sit on the ring.

What moissanite gains in DG-Octagonal Kite

Far more fire than in diamond

Fire 95 against 82 for the DG-Octagonal Kite in diamond: 13 points higher

Moissanite's dispersion, 0.104 against 0.044, turns the light the kites return into 95 for fire, where diamond reaches 82.

Dg-octagonal kite in moissanite face-up under a single bright light: a render from our simulator, its coloured flashes are the fire (score 95)

DG-Octagonal Kite in moissanite · Fire 95

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)

DG-Octagonal Kite in diamond · Fire 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

Lighter than in diamond

1.14 ct at 6.5 mm, against 1.25 ct for the same cut in diamond (−9%)

At 70.0% deep the kite is a heavy cut for its width; in moissanite a 6.5 mm stone stays under the diamond figure.

Moissanite1.14 ctDiamond1.25 ct
A DG-Octagonal Kite 6.5 mm across, weighed from the model's measured volume and each stone's specific gravity.

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

The catch with a DG-Octagonal Kite moissanite

Sparse sparkle

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

41 facets against the T73's 73, and our scintillation score follows the count: 60 against 80.

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 facet plan. The Octagon Cut Moissanite gives an eight-sided outline with 66; for real sparkle in a cornered stone, the Cushion Cut Moissanite at 85.

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

Less light than the diamond version

Brilliance 71 against 88 for the DG-Octagonal Kite in diamond: 17 points lower

The diamond kite returns 88; the moissanite one 71. We measure that the same angles serve diamond better here; we do not trace why.

Dg-octagonal kite in moissanite face-up Light Return map: red, green and blue show where the light returns from, grey shows where it leaks (Brilliance 71)

DG-Octagonal Kite in moissanite · Brilliance 71

Dg-octagonal kite in diamond face-up Light Return map: red, green and blue show where the light returns from, grey shows where it leaks (Brilliance 88)

DG-Octagonal Kite in diamond · Brilliance 88

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: On a cornered outline, the Square Cut Moissanite returns 82; for the most light, DG-M5 Moissanite at 98.

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

More leakage than a round

Leakage 14 against 7 for the T73 Round Brilliant in moissanite: 7 points higher

Out of the back goes 14% of the light in our census; a T73 in moissanite loses 7%. The pavilion is steep, so this is not a shallow-pavilion window.

DG-Octagonal Kite in moissanite · Leakage 14

Dg-octagonal kite in moissanite tilted 0 degrees: Light Return map, 17% of the face leaking0° · 17% leak
Dg-octagonal kite in moissanite tilted 10 degrees: Light Return map, 12% of the face leaking10° · 12% leak
Dg-octagonal kite in moissanite tilted 20 degrees: Light Return map, 16% of the face leaking20° · 16% leak
Dg-octagonal kite in moissanite tilted 30 degrees: Light Return map, 24% of the face leaking30° · 24% leak

T73 Round Brilliant in moissanite · Leakage 7

T73 round brilliant in moissanite tilted 0 degrees: Light Return map, 10% of the face leaking0° · 10% leak
T73 round brilliant in moissanite tilted 10 degrees: Light Return map, 6% of the face leaking10° · 6% leak
T73 round brilliant in moissanite tilted 20 degrees: Light Return map, 10% of the face leaking20° · 10% leak
T73 round brilliant in moissanite tilted 30 degrees: Light Return map, 15% of the face leaking30° · 15% leak
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: At 43.0° the pavilion is already steep, so steepening is not the fix; a different cut is. The Square Cut Moissanite leaks 11%, DG-Anteros Moissanite 3%.

Try it yourself: Tilt it yourself in the simulator's light map

Slightly smaller for its weight

Spread 96 against 100 for the T73 Round Brilliant in moissanite: 4 points lower

At 70.0% deep the kite carries more weight below the girdle than the T73, so the same carat weight shows a smaller face.

DG-Octagonal Kite · 6.22 mm at 1.00 ct · Spread 96

T73 Round Brilliant · 6.68 mm at 1.00 ct · Spread 100

Both stones weigh 1.00 ct in moissanite and are drawn to the same scale, from each cut's own model. Spread is face-up size per carat: a deeper stone carries more weight below the girdle and looks smaller for its weight.

What helps: Choose by millimetres: at 6.5 mm the kite weighs 1.14 ct in moissanite.

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

Who a DG-Octagonal Kite moissanite suits

DG-Octagonal Kite suits a bold, symmetrical centre stone where colour and pattern matter more than brightness. In moissanite it is fiery and steady under tilt, with sparse sparkle.

For moissanite, a cut drawn for this stone does more: DG-M5 Moissanite for light, DG-Miliano Moissanite for sparkle. In diamond this design returns more light; the DG-Octagonal Kite page shows both stones.

DG-Octagonal Kite Moissanite: questions

Is DG-Octagonal Kite good for moissanite?

For fire, yes: 95. For sparkle and light it trails: Scintillation 60 and Brilliance 71, against 80 and 86 for the T73.

Why does DG-Octagonal Kite score better in diamond?

In our census the diamond version returns 88 for brilliance and leaks 7%, against 71 and 14% here. We measure the difference; we do not trace its cause.

What does a 6.5 mm DG-Octagonal Kite moissanite weigh?

1.14 ct, or 1.25 ct for the same model in diamond.

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.

More gemstones and cuts

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

Other cuts in moissanite

The DG-Octagonal Kite in other gemstones