DIAMOND CUTS
One of the main reasons for diamonds being so beautiful is their cut. In fact, diamond cuts are known to be the most critical aspects of these unbreakable and shining gems.
Introduction
A diamond cut is a style guide when shaping the diamond. Contrary to the popular belief that it is the shape of the stone, it is actually symmetry, proportion and polish of the stone. Diamond cuts not only effects the luminous of the stone but also play a significant role in the pricing of the diamond jewelry.
Jewelers from around the world have worked tremendously to make diamonds commercially successful. For this, a number of different cuts have been created inspired from objects that we use in our day-to-day lives.
The main traits that people concentrate on are brilliance, fire and sparkle, all of which are characterized because of the diamond cuts.
While brilliance of the diamond speaks of the amount of light that is reflected by the gem, the diamond’s fire speaks of how the light is dispersed and how the spectrum of light is shown. And sparkle speaks of the stone’s shimmer.
The cut of the diamond is, in a great way, responsible for the way the stone captures and portrays light. This is known to be the most expressive detail that defines an artist’s craftsmanship.
There are various types of cuts and each one of them is based on the specific standards set by what’s known as the ideal cut. It also provides details of the right light ratio that gives the diamond maximum brilliance, fire and sparkle.
1. Cushion Cut
2. Emerald Cut
3. Asscher Cut
4. Heart Cut
5. Marquise Cut
6. Oval Cut
7. Princess Cut
9. Pear Cut
Cushion Cut
Description
Also known as the Old Mine Cut, this type is like square or a rectangular cut that is rounded at the corners. It has 58 dazzling facet styles that look like the shape of a pillow. It is slightly less brilliant than the modern round diamonds but is more dispersive, meaning that it separates white light easily into a spectrum of beautiful colors in chunks and has better fire.
With the extensive technology available, the cushion cut gives a beautiful symmetry, good proportion and a great polished finish.
History
This has been around for more than 200 long years and was the most popular type until the early 1900’s. Particularly from 1830 to the turn of the century, it was known to be the best there is.
Later, according to the extensive research made in the year 1913 by Marcel Tolkowsky, various enhancements were made over time to transform the cut making it more popular.
Effect On Jewelry Pricing
The price of the diamond depends on all the 4Cs equally. Generally, it is categorized according to the dispersion level of light and the categories are Ideal, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. Closer to being ideal, higher is the price value of the diamonds with cushion cut.
Why You Should Choose This?
Due to its antique nature, it would be a beautiful selection for items such as engagement rings and pendants. It would be a great choice to go because of its soft and elegant shape. With good selection of cut, carat, clarity and color it would provide a lovely sparkle and brilliance. Thus, it makes a perfect jewelry for sure!
Emerald Cut
Description
The Emerald Cut has its facets shaped in steps that are in parallel to the edges, looking more like pyramid with a portion on the top being cut off. Thus, it is also known as step cut or table cut. The diamonds with this cut are known to be beautifully bright and have clear form. They are generally rectangular in shape and reflect lesser light than the normal brilliant cut. The emerald cut is generally made in best quality since the slightest difference in the cut can be noticed.
History
In the beginning, it was designed specifically to enhance emeralds rather than diamonds. This was because the latter were more difficult to process than the former ones. But as time progressed over the years, the cutting process for this type of cut was designed well to be used on diamonds, making it a popular design for engagement rings. The design has been existent for more than 100 years.
Effect On Jewelry Pricing
Evaluate the color and clarity of the stone with ease. If a round cut diamond and an emerald where to have the same color, clarity and carat, the latter would be known to have the lower price.
Why You Should Choose This?
When you wish to purchase diamonds with emerald cut then it is vital to look for quality and make sure to go in for the highest grade possible. Though they are not as antique as the brilliant round cut, but they surely are more economical to invest in. With the same grade, weight and clarity, emerald cut diamond is better in style, more affordable and look lovely as engagement rings.
Asscher Cut
Description
The Asscher Cut is yet another beautiful and a popular type. This looks more like the square emerald cut. However, with large facets and a small table, it gives out more brilliance than the emerald cut. The cut would look to have concentric squares when seen from the center of the table and has its corners shaped just like the emerald cut.
Since it is something like a square with its corners cropped off, it resembles an octagon. The best grade of this type would have a table of 61% to 69%, depth of 61% to 67% and the length/width ratio of 1.00 to 1.03.
History
It was first brought about around 1902 by Holland’s Asscher Brothers. During that period of time, the Asscher brothers were celebrated for cutting one of the largest stones – The Cullinan Diamonds. It gained popularity in 1920’s and continued to be around in jewelry stores with antique designs. With the progress of time, many modifications were learnt to bring about a unique style for the asscher cut.
Effect On Jewelry Pricing
The price of the asscher cut also depends on the 4C’s. According to the size and the clarity of the stone, the price is ranged to suit the grade. The cost of this cut is comparatively lower than other diamond cuts.
Why You Should Choose This?
Most often an Asscher Cut diamond is set with a four pronged mount for engagement rings and earrings. It is a great choice to go in for asscher cut diamonds as they sparkle more than the other choices and if chosen with a deep cutlet would provide with remarkable clarity.
Heart Cut
Description
The Heart Cut is also well-known in the diamond industry. This is also known as one of the fancy cuts that are most often chosen with different colors. It is basically shaped as a pear including a top cleft which contains 59 facets.
The shape of the heart being a romantic gesture, the heart cut is often chosen for engagement rings, pendants, wedding sets and diamond bracelets, best known for – a lover’s gift. It can be deftly used for those stones that have a flaw, thereby bringing out amazing brilliance and fire.
History
The romantic symbol of love was first mentioned in the year 1463, in a letter by the infamous Duke of Milan to Nicodemo, as “heart shaped diamond”. It is considered that this cut might have been brought about by Lodewyk Van Berquem, the legendary diamond cutter. In the later years, it was recorded that in 1562, Queen Elizabeth was given a gold ring with a heart shaped diamond by Mary, Queen of Scots.
Effect On Jewelry Pricing
There are a number of aspects that determine the price of the stone. In case of diamonds it is because of the 4C’s. The cut itself being intricate and symbolic affects the price of the jewelry piece. The larger the cut, brighter the color and more the clarity, then the price would be high. Higher the grade, higher would be the price. It is advisable to go in for bright colored heart cut with high grade.
Why You Should Choose This?
Fancy cut is a wonderful choice for beautiful day events that showcase one’s love like on Valentine’s Day or on Anniversaries. You can go in for different colors for this diamond piece making it a unique gift of love.
Marquise Cut
Description
Diamonds with the Marquise Cut is another type that gives off an amazing sparkle. Though this is not as popular as the common round brilliant diamonds, it is however, very elegant and sophisticated. The shape of the cut is such that is gives the look of being larger than it really is to the beholder.
Elliptical in shape with pointed ends, it has a length/width ratio of 1.75 – 2.25 to 1. Due to its unique shape, the stone would be well protected with a six prong setting instead of a regular four prong set.
History
This was first brought about during the time of the French monarchy, King Louis XIV. It is said that King Louis XIV desired that his craftsmen create a diamond design that is most brilliant and wanted the shape of the diamond to equal the smile of the beautiful Marchioness Madame de Pompadour. With this description, the King’s craftsmen fashioned the Marquise Cut.
The cut then went through different modifications over time and rose in popularity during the 1960’s to the 1980’s.
Effect On Jewelry Pricing
When it comes to the marquise cut, the grade of the stone determines the price range than the size of the cut itself. The diamond might be large in size but might be lower in grade, thus making it less expensive than a smaller size marquise cut of high grade. So, keep an eye out in choosing the highest grade possible.
Why You Should Choose This?
This is a great choice since it can increase the carat weight and look much larger than the round or pear cut diamonds, because of its elongated ends. This also brings out the brilliance and fire of the diamond making it a fine selection for rings, pendants and bracelets.
Oval Cut
Description
The Oval Cut is elliptical in shape and is a brilliant cut. It is beautifully proportioned and symmetrical with its many facets. It is particularly popular because of its ability to accentuate slender long fingers. The characteristic feature that helps determines the right size is the length / width ratio.
For most oval cuts with traditional design have a length – width ratio of 1.33 to 1.66. Just like the marquise cut, the oval cut diamonds look larger than they really are and are truly are larger than the other cuts with the same carat weight.
History
This was first brought about by Lazare Kaplan, the legendary Russian diamond cutter known best for his skill in cleaving and the founder of Lazare Kaplan International; it is where he would split a rough diamond into smaller stones with a single blow. The oval cut is his creation in the 1960’s. With his brilliant skill and eye for detail, it was possible for him to form such a breathtaking diamond design.
Effect On Jewelry Pricing
When it comes to the price, the oval cut is more affordable per carat than others like the round brilliant diamond. Comparing both these cuts of the same grade, color and clarity, the oval cut generally costs a little less than its counterpart.
Why You Should Choose This?
It is considered both sophisticated and fashionable. It’s been known to be quite rare but is a perfect choice for engagement rings and wedding sets is absolutely amazing. Since the shape of the diamond makes it look larger than it really is, it would be a most suited selection for jewelry items. The brilliance and fire that the cut contributes to the piece of jewelry would be an asset to the one who owns it.
Princess Cut
Description
As beautiful as the name sounds, diamonds with this princess cut are beautiful. They give off an extra sparkle. When compared to other options, they are known to be more brilliant.
This is a bit square in shape with perfect symmetric design having about 76 facets and is also known on grading certificates as a modified square brilliant diamond cut. It is one of the more recent cuts for diamond shapes and is considered commonly as a square variety of the round brilliant cut.
History
The origination of the princess cut goes back a few decades, created by Johannesburg’s Basil Watermeyer, which was a varied modification of the Barion cut. It is known because of its sharp features making it more detailed and improved faceting to a large extent. This also brought out the maximum possible brilliance of the stone. This is also known by the names Squarillion, Profile and Quadrillion cut.
Effect On Jewelry Pricing
Most of the fancy cut diamonds are affordable, just as the princess cut. The price of this cut depends on the grade of the stone. Higher the grade more will be the price. It is important to keep a close eye on the clarity of the diamond, symmetry, polish and color.
Why You Should Choose This?
It is of the most popular types in the industry as it makes great engagement rings, earrings, and other jewelry. This saves almost 25% in cost compared to the round brilliant diamond. While selecting this cut on engagement rings, make sure to see that it has the right mount setting of solitaire. It would be a perfect choice for those who wish to have a little more sparkle, brilliance and fire on them.
Round Brilliant
Description
65% of diamond jewelry sold today utilizes the round brilliant cut. Round in shape, it consists of 56 to 58 facets. The arrangement of the facets makes the diamond increase the amount of light reflecting from the inside of the stone to a maximum. The round brilliant cut is ideally chosen to make when the rough crystal is in the shape of an octahedron.
History
The round brilliant cut was first introduced in the 17th century, but it wasn’t until a century ago that rose to popularity. It started with Marcel Tolkowsky of a well – known diamond family in Russia. He was interested in calculating the number of facets and cuts needed to perfect the Ideal shape of a diamond – The Brilliant Cut. It was from that time on that many techniques and calculations were made to bring about the round brilliant to provide maximum brilliance and fire that we know of today.
Effect On Jewelry Pricing
The price is usually higher than the other fancy diamond cuts. The round brilliant cut price largely is due to its high manufacturing cost and heavy demand in the market. Furthermore, with a higher grade level, the diamond piece would command a higher price value as well.
Why You Should Choose This?
It is an ideal choice for engagement rings, and all other jewelry sets because of its maximized brilliance and fire compared to other cuts of the same carat. Though this cut is commonly chosen, it brings its own unique beauty to the beholder and the person wearing it – a definite pride of joy.
Pear Cut
Description
The pear cut diamond is also known as the teardrop cut, since it resembles the shape of a teardrop. This beautiful shape has a sharp and pointed end which if not protected well might be prone to being chipped off. Because of its shape, it has the ability to show off more color with the reflection of light, giving out a good degree of brilliance and fire.
The diamonds with the pear cut can look larger than they really are from the top view than other cuts with the same carat. Thus, it would best accentuate slender long fingers, portraying more beauty. The length / width ratio is 1.5 to 1.75.
History
The pear cut was one of the early creations going back to the 1500’s. It was during this time that Lodewyk van Berken designed this. He was the distinguished diamond cutter who introduced the concept of symmetry and the intricate placement of facets.
It was due to him that we are all enjoying the beauty of sparkling diamonds like they are today. It was his creation since it contains quite sophisticated assignment of facets. But, it was critiqued since it lost a major portion of the stone during the cutting process.
Effect On Jewelry Pricing
The quality of the pear cut determines the price of the piece. With a high grade, symmetry and clarity, it is possible to obtain a great set of diamonds for a good price.
Why You Should Choose This?
Rare as it may be, it is an elegant choice to make for engagement rings, bracelets, pendants and earrings. The pear shaped diamond would display remarkable beauty indeed.
Diamond Education: Learn All About Diamond Cuts,
