What does 'finish' mean on a diamond grading report?

Finish is the collective grading of a diamond's polish and symmetry, two qualities determined entirely by the cutter's skill rather than the stone's raw composition. On an IGI grading report for a lab-grown diamond, finish appears as two distinct grades: one for polish, which measures surface smoothness, and one for symmetry, which evaluates the precision of facet placement and alignment. Neither grade reflects the diamond's inherent chemical or optical properties; both reflect how well the cutter executed the design. A finish grade of Excellent in both categories means the cutter introduced no surface irregularities and held facet angles to tight tolerances. Very Good is a practical alternative that affects visible brilliance only slightly. When comparing lab-grown diamonds at similar carat weights, finish grades are one of the clearest indicators of cutting quality and often explain price differences between otherwise comparable stones.