If you're in the process of buying a diamond engagement ring for your future bride, chances are you've brushed up on some gem knowledge. If you haven't, you have to understand that the cost and overall quality of a diamond relies on its 4 Cs – cut, carat, color and clarity. The shape of the diamond that your future fiancée probably dropped hints about many times already lies in the stone's cut.
Hopefully, no one thinks that a diamond that's found in jewelry pieces was found naturally that way. In fact, the gems are natural crystals in different shapes and sizes created under the earth's crust through rock formations. The rough pieces only become the beautiful brilliant baubles that you see in jewelry stores after a diamond cutter uses his or her expertise to cut facets in the stone.
Diamond cutting is an art in itself. The cut of a diamond describes how the gem is shaped and polished, with many components like angles and proportions taken into consideration for maximum brilliance. The cut is normally confused with the shape, when in fact, the shape is but another factor in the process of cutting.
When it comes to popularity, the round brilliant cut is the most popular, accounting for more than 75 percent of diamonds in the market, according to the Diamond Buying Guide. The shape is characterized by a flat round top and a coning at the bottom. The 58-facet cut "is calibrated through a precise formula to achieve the maximum in fire and brilliance," the news outlet explains.
Gaining popularity as the choice of many celebrities, the princess cut has a square crown as opposed to the round of the brilliant cut. According to the news outlet, the cut is a lot more forgiving when it comes to any diamond flaws or inclusions. However, because of its four corners, the princess cut will always require a 4-pronged setting, which could be limiting to some people.
A pear shape or teardrop, as the name implies, is curved on one side and ends on a tip. If this is what your partner has been dreaming of, do be careful in choosing a piece that might have been cut improperly. Luckily, these baubles can be easily detected with the "bow-tie effect" that the Diamond Buying Guide explains as a dark spot in the middle of the stone. This kind of cut also suffers an uneven or asymmetrical shoulder in the hands of an untrained cutter.
As the ultimate symbol of love, your future wife might enjoy a heart-shaped diamond engagement ring instead. The cut is essentially a pear-shaped diamond with a cleft, and could be the perfect choice for those who want to take the romance to another level. According to the news outlet, this shape may just be the most difficult shape to find because it requires superb craftsmanship.
Another important cut that has become popular throughout the years is the emerald. Derived from the cut of the emerald stone, this shape is characterized with its rectangular geometry and cropped corners. The news source mentions that this kind of diamond tends to have broader and longer lines than any other cut so flashes of light that hit the stone could be pretty dramatic.
Whatever kind of cut that you purchase for your fiancée, and whether it's on a contemporary setting or vintage jewelry, remember that the diamond ring is a symbol of your love and commitment to her, so be sure that you choose the perfect piece that you can surprise her with when you pop the question.
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