Most popular diamond cuts and the significance of shapes like Round, Princess, Emerald, Pear, Oval and Heart explained.
Although the true value of a solitaire is judged upon 4Cs – carat weight, color, clarity, and cut, the shape is viewed by the consumers as an additional factor to acquire such a precious stone.
Raw diamonds are cut and polished only by the experts to get the desired brilliance and carat weight because each type of finish has its own characteristics which contribute to estimating the market price of an end product.
Illustrating an excavated stone, a Radiant cut yields greater carat weight than the most popular ‘Round’ cut. However, a Round Brilliant cut diamond is loved by the most because of its property of maximum brilliance, even if the carat weight is comparatively lesser. As each shape is unique, we describe below some features of diamond shapes to understand which one suits best for you.
Round
Without a doubt, the Round Brilliant cut is the most popular one and the bestseller amongst all. As said above, Round cut solitaires are the most radiant ones which represent almost eighty percent of all diamonds sold in the market. Often used in engagement rings for its exceptional reflection of white light, a stunner is assured for the onlookers with the timeless appearance of a Round cut diamond. Despite the fact that the yield from a mined gemstone is relatively low, it fetches a very high price per carat in comparison to other shapes mentioned below.
Marquise
Marquise diamonds are football-shaped stones which are perceived as the wider version of round-cut diamonds. Due to their long and narrow appearance similar to oval shape gemstones, Marquises appear to have a considerably larger surface area. If embedded in the rings, they make the fingers look long, thin and beautiful. They are very rare, elegant and count to only about 1% of the total diamonds traded in the business. Moreover, some grading institutions like GIA do not rate Marquise diamonds for ‘cut’ parameters. Therefore, it is important to involve an expert of Marquise solitaires to tell you more about the ‘bow-tie effect’ and length-to-width ratio in order to determine the true value of the diamond in question.
Princess
Four-sided pyramid structure and one of the most popular fancy shapes in the diamond business after the round ones, Princess shape solitaires are extremely beautiful and demand a little lower price per carat than the Round cut diamonds. These are crafted for greater yields from the mined raw stones with minimum wastage of carat weight during the diamond cutting process. Its top-view is square for the observers but the brilliance factor is very high and close to the Round Brilliant cut.
Pear
Pear-shaped diamonds, also known as Teardrop or Pendeloque, have a unique shape of a single pointy end with a rounded edge on another. Combination of Marquise and Round cut, Pears display a mesmerizing tapered outline with a wonderful scintillation if carved perfectly. With professional assistance, look out for ‘the bow-tie effect’ in Pear shape solitaires – a phenomenon causing shadow across central facets of a diamond which may reduce its brilliance and value thereafter.
Emerald
Nearly square to a narrow rectangle shape, Emeralds are made by step-cuts on the portion of diamond below the girdle – called Pavilion. This type of solitaire is not crafted for too much glitter but to create a mysterious hall-of-mirrors illusion. Longer planes across the edges and inside the structure resemble a regal glance, often observed in the queenly pendants throughout the history of many kingdoms.
Radiant
Radiant cut diamonds are square or rectangle with trimmed edges and 70 facets in general. The combination of brilliance with carat weight is preserved very high with a well-cut Radiant solitaire. The inclusions are concealed in presence of extra facets and improved clarity is achieved with outstanding sparkle and fire. It is often used for wedding and engagement jewelry.
Asscher
The deep and versatile cut of Asscher appears like a Square-Emerald design with larger step facets and a visible crown. With the fact that an Asscher solitaire produces more brilliance than the Emerald, its deep cut provides a good value by carat weight. Slight color retention is common in Asscher and Emerald cut diamonds, nevertheless, the shine is quite high and so is the work-friendly compatibility with no sharp edges present in Asscher cut diamonds.
Oval
Oval cut diamonds are known for excellent durability, style and glitter. Unlike a round cut, the Oval shape is crafted for uniqueness and individual statement. With a complex structure and the required commitment of proficiency to carve out a perfect Oval from raw stone, it has gained huge popularity in the modern world of fashion. A sleek Oval design is a combination of Round and Pear cut which acts as a preference for many women to make the fingers look elegant and long.
Heart
Most romantic of all, the heart-shaped solitaire is cut for fiery and brilliant appearance. If cut with symmetrical proportions by an expert, Heart solitaires carry a good carat value and demand quite a high price given the difficulty involved to fabricate such a flawless structure with least possible bow-tie effect. With a good value for money, the heart-shaped diamonds are very trendy and make you stand out due to their eye-catching brilliance.
The symbol of love and an unmistakable sign of affection sculpted in the Heart made of Diamond.
Cushion
Like the Princess cut, Cushion cut diamonds are square or rectangular but with soft rounded edges that no other shape can match. Also called Candlelight or Pillow cut, this shape has been popular in the royal households for centuries. Considered as classic and antique, the Cushion cut creates a distinctive feel with large facets to allow good separation of white light into a reflection of different colors. The extra facets in a Cushion cut stone give more room for the light to pass through, hiding any flaws effectively and making it one of the best in the class of rectangular diamonds.
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