Blog

Diamond Shapes Part One

31/03/2020

A Guide to Different Diamond Shapes - Part 1

The month of April gives us the perfect opportunity to talk about our favourite gemstone, Diamonds. There are plenty of sources for you to find out information about diamonds, so many it can nearly be overwhelming. A previous post in our blog will give you a simplified overview of what to look for when buying a diamond, including information on the 4 C’s and how the youngest diamond is 900 million years old! You can find the link to that post here:

 https://www.wehrlybros.ie/article/april-birthstone....diamond

Something else to consider is the different shapes that diamonds can be cut into. Hopefully the following will help with your decision when purchasing this precious stone.

Round Brilliant

The round brilliant cut diamond is the most popular cut for diamonds, equating to nearly two thirds of all diamond sales. There are a number of reasons why they are so popular, the main reason being that they are cut with 58 facets, facets that diamond cutters have been working on for 100’s of years. It is these facets that allow light to reflect back to your eyes, as well adding to the diamond’s fire, (the amount of coloured light that is dispersed by the stone), and finally contributing to the stones brilliance (what makes a diamond sparkle). This cut truly makes a timeless diamond. An example of the round brilliant diamond is:

0.95ct Round Brilliant Cut Diamond (GIA Certified F / VVS2 ...

Princess

Princess cut diamonds come in a predominantly square shape and are used in roughly 30% of all diamond engagement ring sales. This cut first appeared in the 60’s and 70’s and is as ever popular today with celebrities such as Emily Ratajkowski and Snooki. This cut can be made of up to 76 small facets and generally has pointed corners. From the rough stone, a princess cut stone can retain up to 80% of the original weight. The great thing about this cut is the fact that their faceting reduces the visibility of flaws, or inclusions, in the diamond. An example of a princess cut diamond is:

GIA Certified Princess Natural Loose Diamond (Carat: 0.95, Color ...

Emerald

Not to be confused with the beautiful green coloured gemstone, emerald cut diamonds are rectangular in shape. Different to the first 2 cuts mentioned above, emerald cut diamonds have rectangular facets that look like stairs or steps cut into the table of the stone. Due to this faceting it is difficult to mask inclusions in an emerald cut diamond however a positive is that it showcases size better than other diamonds of the same carat meaning you could get a larger piece without a huge cost. Because of its symmetry and clean lines, this style is very popular for someone looking for an Art Deco style ring which may explain why it is so popular with celebrities including Beyoncé, Amal Clooney and Jennifer Lawrence. An example of an emerald cut diamond is:

0.79ct Emerald Cut Diamond, Loose 001-190-00082 | Diamonds - Loose ...

 

Oval

In recent times we have seen that oval cut diamonds have become increasingly popular, especially in engagement rings. This may be due to the fact that it is considered a “fancy” cut stone. It brings a similar brilliance and fire to a round brilliant cut but its elongated design adds character. With this elongated shape brings a “bow-tie effect”, something to consider when purchasing an oval cut diamond. If at all possible you would try and avoid a strong bow-tie effect. Our diamond specialists would be able to explain this to you if it is an oval cut diamond that you are looking for. Oval diamonds are said to be romantic and encourage longevity which is why it is chosen the world over, with people like Blake Lively and Hailey Bieber wearing this cut diamond. An example of an oval cut diamond is:

Loose Diamond 0.5 carat Oval Cut Diamond - E/VS2 Natural Excellent Cut - AIG Certified

 

Pear

Pear cut or teardrop diamonds have been around since the 1400’s making it an elegant and timeless stone. With its unique shape of a rounded edge and single point, it incorporates the best qualities of 2 different cuts: the round brilliant and marquise (see part 2 of our guide to diamond cuts). Tradition states that the correct way to wear a pear cut diamond is to wear it with the tip pointing away from you (a great way to make the finger look more slender) however there will be those that argue that the tip should be worn pointing towards the heart of the wearer (especially in an engagement ring!). Because well-cut Pear shapes are harder to find, it’s an exquisite alternative to the traditional cuts. An example of a pear cut diamond is:

Pear Shape (Natural Diamonds) - Brocks Jewelers

In part 2 we will cover the other popular diamond shapes including: Cushion, Radiant, Marquise, Asscher and Heart.

Sources:

www.diamonds.pro/education

https://www.gemsociety.org/

https://4cs.gia.edu/



Read Next:

Diamond Shapes Part Two
Contact00353-71-9142252Email us
Secure Payments