There are six categories in the diamond clarity scale :. Diamonds are measured by their apparent size. Price increases with carat weight because larger stones are more rare and desirable.
Size is not the only determiner of value, as each of the 4Cs play an important part in determining price. It is well known that the classic shape, Round Brilliant, has the ideal facet pattern for the most light return.
Round Brilliant is the most classic stone shape and is made up of 58 facets. This shape follows the natural crystal shape of a rough diamond.
The particular pattern of a Brilliant cut was first developed by Marcel Tolkowsky, who came from a family of diamond cutters.
This cut was precisely calculated to have maximum brilliance and dispersion of light. Cut is often confused with shape, although there is a big difference between them. Before you begin your engagement ring search, learn the important facts to differentiate the two.
The type of cut a stone has refers to how well it returns light. The amount of light return has to do with the geometric facet pattern of a particular stone. The closer it is to an Ideal standard, the more sparkle it will emit. Stones are often more valuable and desirable the more light they return. Diamond shape refers to the general silhouette of a stone when viewed face up. These are the common terms you hear such as Round Brilliant and Princess. Shapes are created to suit a variety of needs and continue to become more modern and unique.
There are dozens of different styles, but only around 11 that are the most well-known. As the second most popular shape, Princess cuts also return light in a similar fashion to a Brilliant.
Due to their square shape, their versatility is endless. Emerald: The Emerald cut is referred to as a step-cut because it features long, open facets that resemble steps.
This shape is similar to a rectangle, and is featured in vintage designs. Pear: This shape is a modern style that is often seen in halo settings. It is known to have a slenderizing effect on fingers due to its tapered end. Similar to the marquise cut, this elongated shape means that the oval cut wears slightly larger than differently cut diamonds of the same carat weight. Like the marquise and oval cuts, the pear cut or, more commonly, the pear shape has a similar facet pattern to the round brilliant cut.
If fact, just like the round brilliant cut, a typical pear shape diamond has 58 facets, allowing it to take in and reflect an excellent amount of light. Heart cut, or heart-shaped, diamonds are cut similarly to round brilliant diamonds, with between 56 and 58 facets. Like other fancy shape diamonds, finding a well-cut heart shape diamond can be a challenging process. The marquise cut was developed in the 18th century when King Louis XV of France asked for a diamond cut into the shape of the lips of his mistress, the Marchioness Madame de Pompadour, Jeanne Antoinette Poisson.
With 56 facets, the marquise cut has a similar facet pattern to the round brilliant cut. This gives it excellent brilliance, meaning a well-cut marquise diamond will offer plenty of sparkle. In addition to its impressive sparkle, the marquise cut tends to look slightly larger than differently cut diamonds of the same carat weight.
This makes it an option worth considering if you want a diamond that combines a beautiful sparkle with impressive presence. However, these shapes are prized for their clarity and luster. Cut well and in a high clarity grade, a high-quality Asscher or Emerald cut diamond can have a unique, elegant appearance. These diamonds look identical in a ring. In general, diamonds with a large number of facets such as those listed above will sparkle more than diamonds with fewer facets.
However, the shape of a diamond is just one factor out of many that can determine how strongly it sparkles. Simply put, a well-cut diamond will reflect far more light than a badly cut one, resulting in a much stronger, more visible sparkle. As we recommend in our guide to diamond cut , we highly recommend limiting your search to diamonds with a high-quality cut grade.
These cut grades ensure that the diamond has the right proportions for optimal brilliance and fire. For fancy shape diamonds, such as the marquise, oval, pear and heart cuts, choosing the right diamond can be more of a challenge. We recommend using a trusted online diamond vendor such as James Allen or Blue Nile , both of whom provide high-resolution, degree images of their loose diamonds that you can use to spot any obvious cut problems.
Cut is essential for optimal sparkle, making it important to take this component of the four Cs as seriously as possible. More than any other factor, the cut of a diamond will affect how strongly it sparkles, both in and out of direct light. Considering that its shape maximizes the fire of the diamond at the proper reflection of light, it's no surprise that this is the reigning stone we're all guilty of falling for a good sparkle.
Round, brilliant-cut diamonds work well as solitaires, in two- and three-stone settings , and even in geometric settings for a more retro look. These diamonds are great brides who love the classics, but if you're on the more alternative side, you may want to consider a cut that'll appear on fewer fingers.
What bride doesn't want to feel like a princess on her big day? Enter the eponymous princess cut , another widely popular engagement ring style. The princess cut's versatile face-up shape—complete with square or rectangle sides—makes it a prime choice for nearly any ring style.
You'll get a more modern and geometrical look while still boasting a ton of brilliance, and they're generally much less expensive than the more popular round-cut diamonds. Be sure to choose a protective setting, though, as princess-cut diamonds are known for chipping at the corners or falling out.
This exquisite cut is often compared to a pillow, thanks to its square-cut combination with rounded corners which, when combined with the cut's classic 58 larger facets, increases the stone's brilliance. The cushion-cut diamond has been around since the 18th century, and it was huge in the 19th century when most gemstones were cushion-cut though it was referred to then as the mine cut.
They've recently surged back into popularity, emanating a total old-world vibe that's perfect for vintage settings. They do have a less intense sparkle than brilliant-cut diamonds, and though they look great in modern settings, they aren't the most contemporary. Characterized by a rectangular step cut, an open table, and cropped corners, the emerald cut diamond is often favored for its Art Deco aesthetic.
While it has more of an understated sparkle—some like to call it a "hall-of-mirrors" effect—its long silhouette and angular lines capture the diamond's clarity, while dramatically catching the light.
When set vertically, their shape helps fingers look longer and more slender, perfect for those engagement ring selfies. However, because it has fewer facets to distract from blemishes, clarity is of the utmost importance, as is color. It's also not a super flashy style, so if you're looking for a mega sparkler, it's not the cut for you. Also called the Navette cut, the marquise cut is known for its regal feel. Its distinctive silhouette is marked by curved sides and pointed ends—an elegant football shape if you will.
Its long, narrow shape not only creates an illusion of greater size but elongates the finger when set vertically. It also boasts a brilliant sparkle. However, because of it's delicate pointed edges, there's a risk of chipping and breakage if the ring is not set properly. It also tends to show what's called a "bowtie" appearance across the center of the diamond. If the ring is not cut well, this can be very noticeable and is generally undesirable.
Essentially an elongated version of a round diamond, the oval-shaped diamond can have just as many facets as a round-cut stone, which means it has the capacity to sparkle just as much. It's an elegant and out-of-the-ordinary choice, and its oblong shape can lengthen the finger. If not cut properly, though, it tends to have a similar "bowtie" effect as a marquise-cut stone, and it also tends to show flaws and inclusions. One way to combat this is to choose a salt-and-pepper oval-cut diamond so that otherwise unwanted inclusions become an essential part of your look.
True to its name, a radiant-cut diamond —invented in by Henry Grossbard—catches the light in a big way. The shape mimics an emerald-cut stone, but the unique, deep-cut facets allow for extra sparkle. Brides who don't want to stray too far from the classic shapes will appreciate this stone's timeless nature and bespoke spirit.
Deep cut diamonds are those that are cut too deep, allowing light to escape. These diamonds have often been cut for maximum weight, rather than maximum beauty. Shallow cut diamonds are cut to appear larger and lack brilliance because of this.
Ideal cuts describe diamonds of the highest cut quality. Blue Nile sells ideal and Astor Ideal diamonds. Astor Ideal diamonds claim to be even more brilliant than ideals and are more expensive. When in doubt, you can always trust a GIA certified diamond with an excellent cut. Brilliants are the most popular diamond style. Most diamonds sold today are round brilliants because of their remarkable beauty.
Clarity also affects the sparkle of a diamond.
0コメント