11 Popular Diamond Cuts and What they Say About You
11 Popular Diamond Cuts and What they Say About You
Posted by Sharif Khan on 9th Feb 2021
There are numerous factors that buyers often consider when shopping for diamonds. While most primarily select their diamonds based on a balance of the 4Cs, others choose the gems depending on their budget needs. Some even go to the extent of considering further intricate details, such as certification, insurance, and how the diamonds are sourced.
Each one of the above factors is crucial to selecting the ideal stone. Here, it is of importance to establish what the diamond says about, and how it relates to one's taste and personality. Moreover, it should be remembered that a gemstone might be something that one holds on to for the entire life. Therefore, if the red color is fancied, it is only natural to proceed and purchase it.
A diamond cut is the main element of the Four Cs that a consumer should consider when shopping for a stone that could reflect their character and personality. This is so because out of all the four aspects, it is the cut of a diamond that is most outstanding, hence of prominence. Read on as we highlight the top 11 diamond cuts and what they say about people.
1. Emerald Diamond Cut
An emerald cut is one of the most exquisite and unique diamond shapes out there, requiring heightened skill and craftsmanship to facet. Compared to other diamond cuts such as round diamonds, the emerald cut does not give off immense brilliance. Instead, it produces a figure that looks like a “hall of mirrors”, which is where it draws its uniqueness and elegance.
Emerald diamond cuts also feature a rectangular shape complete with lean facets down their sides. The pattern creates an image of stair steps, based on which consumers tend to choose the emerald cut to symbolize a change in social status. Emerald cuts are also associated with people who are confident, glamorous, and open to taking risks.
Grace Kelly and Kate Hudson are some of the celebrities that sport the emerald cut.
2. Cushion Diamond Cut
Cushion diamonds are characterized by their square cuts with round corners, and are so faceted that they tend to sparkle near their centers. From afar, a cushion diamond may resemble a square or a pentagon. But when viewed closely, its round corners give it an appearance of a pillow, from whence it gets its name.
Despite their simplistic appearance, cushion diamonds also require skilled craftsmanship to facet. The round corners have to be meticulously polished to give the diamond a perfect optical symmetry. The diamonds are also some of the oldest, with a history that goes back more than a century ago. Cushion cuts exude feelings of class, elegance, and romance, whilst exhibiting clarity, purity, and a strong sense of fashion as well. And given that their history goes way back, cushion diamonds are popular among shoppers who prefer the classics.
Brooke Shields, Giuliana Rancic, and Jennifer Garner are notable celebrities with cushion cut diamonds.
3. Pear Diamond Cut
As the name suggests, pear diamonds bear the shape of a pear fruit, while also resembling a teardrop. Pear cuts combine the elegance of the round diamonds and the simplicity of the marquise shapes but with slightly elongated narrow endpoints. The best way to style a pear diamond is to have the tapered end pointing towards the hand.
Since pear diamonds resemble a mix of elegance and simplicity, they are popular among stylish people with an open and simplistic approach to life. Wearers of pear-shaped diamonds, who tend to feel unique and adventurous, are generally fun to be around. Besides, since this diamond shape also creates an illusion of size, it is ideal for people who are confident about themselves.
Celebrities who wear pear diamonds include Anne Hathaway and Catherine Heigl.
4. Round Diamond Cut
Round diamond cuts are the world’s most popular and expensive diamond shapes. It is estimated that around three-quarters of all the world’s diamonds are round brilliant. But what makes these diamonds so universal?
Round diamonds exude more sparkle and brilliance than any other diamond shapes. Being so versatile and modern, these diamond cuts give a feeling of style and timelessness, carrying infinite facets that make them perfect at handling light and color.
Round diamonds are popular among people who consider themselves classic and traditional. The cut is especially used to symbolize timeless love, and due to its infinite number of facets, a diamond carrying this cut may also represent limitless possibilities.
Celebrities with round diamonds include Mary J Blige, Madonna, and Barbra Streisand.
5. Princess Diamond Cut
The name alone exudes a royal feeling, and princess diamonds pretty much live up to their name. Princess cuts have four corners that appear sharply-polished and delicate, which fact explains why most princess diamonds are worn along with protective prongs. But besides their delicate nature, princess cuts are simple and versatile and can be experimented on virtually any ring style.
Princess cut diamonds are popular among shoppers looking for a traditional and classic appeal but with a modern twist. Wearers consider themselves trendy, lively, and flirty. And since the diamond can be styled on many rings, wearers of the princess cut are believed to be versatile, outgoing, and tolerant to divergent views.
Some celebrities with the princess diamond include Christine Baumgartner and Jessica Biel.
6. Asscher Diamond Cut
Unlike most diamonds that get their names from their shapes, the Asscher diamond is probably the only stone whose cut is attributed to a person. Asscher diamonds are quite similar to emerald cuts, and it is rather in the cards to confuse the two when observing them from a distance. The main difference, however, is that Asscher cuts feature a square instead of a rectangular shape.
Asscher cuts are generally more brilliant than emerald diamonds due to their larger step facets, smaller table, and higher crown. Asscher diamonds have been around from the Art Deco era of the 20s and 30s, making them a special favorite among consumers that prefer the old and classic. The diamonds are associated with uniqueness, femininity, and elegance.
Asscher diamonds are popular among various celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Pippa Middleton, Jessica Alba, Zooey Deschanel, and Reese Witherspoon.
7. Marquise Diamond Cut
Marquise diamond cuts are a variant of the pear and round shapes and look like a football. Associated with elegance and an outgoing personality, one of the unique things about marquise cuts is that they mostly occur as loose diamonds but look just as superb on a ring. Like oval shapes, marquise cuts tend to appear gorgeous on long and slender fingers. The diamonds feature long, thin bodies and sharp ends that draw the observer’s eyes up, making the stone look longer and thinner.
Due to their long and elongated bodies, marquise diamonds have excellent light performance, hence create a perfect illusion of size. Shoppers that are looking for large diamonds without necessarily splashing out on more carats can settle for this shape.
Some of the popular wearers of marquise diamonds include Victoria Beckham, Christina Milian, Ashlee Simpson Ross, and Portia de Rossi.
8. Radiant Diamond Cut
One of the defining features of radiant diamonds is their scarcity, and being so hard to come by, radiant diamonds also tend to occur as loose stones instead of on engagement rings. But when one finds them, one is sure to step out in style.
Radiant diamonds feature a balance of princess and cushion diamonds, hence also radiate an elegant sparkle. Besides, these perfectly-symmetrical diamonds combine the purity of emerald cuts and the brilliance of round cuts. Featuring trimmed corners, radiant diamonds perform great in many ring settings.
Radiant diamond cuts are common among people who are fun, confident, and flirty. They are also ideal for consumers looking for a sense of class and sophistication, and due to their rarity, radiant cuts are perfect for those wishing to stand out from the crowd.
Popular celebrities with radiant cuts include Jennifer Lopez and Hilary Duff.
9. Oval Diamond Cut
Oval diamonds come with amazing brilliance and can often be found on solitaire rings, especially on wearers with smaller and shorter fingers. Like marquise diamonds, oval cuts also boast excellent light-handling properties—one reason why they are ideal for budget shoppers looking for a stone that appears deceptively large.
Oval diamonds are associated with uniqueness, creativity, and a zest for life. Wearers of oval cuts are thought to be bold, innovative, and risk-takers, and since oval diamonds are a perfect circle, they also represent a promise of forever. Couples that go for oval cuts are often making a lifelong commitment of love, honesty, and fidelity. Their simplistic designs make oval diamonds ideal for people who are not enthusiastic about trends and are instead more keen on stepping out of their comfort zones.
Katie Holmes, Kate Middleton, and Toni Braxton are some of the notable celebrities that don an oval diamond.
10. Trillion Diamond Cut
Also known as trillian or trilliant diamonds, trillion cuts are triangular diamonds, usually rounded on their sides. Trillion diamonds trace their roots to the Netherlands and are among the world’s rarest cuts. Interestingly enough, they are so scarce that they are mostly used as accent stones around the center diamond.
Also, trillions are not as sparkly as other cuts, such as the red brilliant. However, they have a saving grace in their excellent light performance. Like the marquise and oval cuts, trillion diamonds have elongated facets that trap maximum light and reflect it to the stone, thereby enhancing its size.
Trillion diamonds are popular among people that wish to deviate from the norm.
Elizabeth Hurley is an example of a popular wearer of trillion cut diamonds, though the trillions on her ring accentuate the center stone which is a 9-carat sapphire.
11. Heart Diamond Cut
Heart diamonds are, as the name suggests, cuts that resemble the heart. It is quite difficult to find heart diamonds on an engagement ring because these are predominantly used as novelties. Heart diamonds are the unmistakable symbol of timeless love, purity, and innocence, and are popular among romantic couples.
Since heart diamonds are difficult to facet, it should always be ensured that they are properly examined for any flaws before purchase. Moreover, if a flawless heart diamond is desired, make sure that the stone has been carefully analyzed on the ideal-scope tool and shown to be optically-symmetrical. Heart shapes are popular in solitaire rings and pendants, but unlike most cuts, they do not look great in smaller carats.
Andrea Hissom and Joan Collins are some of the celebrities that sport a heart diamond.
Key Takeaways
Choosing a diamond has a lot to do with one’s tastes and preferences. While other factors will also come into play, a stone that is reflective of one’s personality should be selected, not necessarily one that might be otherwise exquisite but wholly unreflective of the buyer’s personality.