Pear Cut Diamonds | Guide, Proportions, L/W Ratio

Understanding how to assess the cut of pear-shaped diamonds is crucial because GIA does not assign them a cut grade, and polish and symmetry alone are not enough to assess their cut.

Depth, table, and length-to-width ratios are the most crucial factors when analyzing the cut grade of a pear-shaped diamond. The thickness of the girdle also matters.

James Allen has the most advanced technology for viewing diamonds, including 40X Magnification and 3D Technology with 360-degree angles. Compare pear cut diamonds with this technology to avoid the bow-tie effect, and pick a well-cut pear diamond.

The issue of clarity affects all diamonds, as inclusions can be visible to the naked eye in diamonds with SI2 or lower clarity grades, reducing their brilliance and fire.

When considering diamond clarity, buyers should focus on two key factors.

First, determine the budget and select a clarity grade accordingly. While flawless diamonds are highly regarded, VVS and VS1 grades offer excellent quality without the premium cost. Inclusions are natural features of diamonds, and some dealers may even prefer VVS clarity over flawless, as it helps distinguish natural diamonds from moissanite. However, lab-grown diamonds can also have inclusions.

For those on a budget, SI2 or higher is suitable for 1 carat diamonds, as long as they appear eye-clean. Avoid large, visible inclusions, especially black crystals, under the table. Ideally, look for diamonds with a clean table and minor inclusions dispersed throughout.

Second, clarity should be balanced with the other 3Cs: carat weight, color, and cut. Opting for a high clarity grade at the expense of size or cut quality can be unwise. For instance, a well-cut 0.8-carat diamond may appear larger than a poorly cut 1 carat diamond with inferior proportions.

The chart below offers guidance on selecting the appropriate clarity grade for a pear cut diamond based on its carat weight:

Like clarity, color is consistent across all diamond shapes, but color ranks second only to cut in importance. Unlike clarity, which impacts a specific spot, color affects the overall appearance of a diamond.

When evaluating color, buyers should focus on two key points. First, determine the budget. While the highest color grades, D or E without fluorescence, are ideal, G-J color diamonds are near colorless and suitable for those on a budget. G or H color is often optimal, with I as a reasonable option. Medium blue fluorescence can benefit H-J diamonds, as the blue tint counteracts any slight yellow hue, making the diamond appear whiter.

Second, color should be balanced with the other three Cs—clarity, carat weight, and cut. Although color is the second most important factor, compromising clarity, carat weight, or especially cut to prioritize color is unwise.

The table below offers further guidance on selecting the appropriate color grade for pear cut diamonds:

Fluorescence can affect a diamond's price, potentially providing a cost advantage for budget-conscious buyers.

While it usually does not diminish a diamond's brilliance, avoiding fluorescence in D-G color diamonds is recommended. G color serves as the point where fluorescence becomes neutral, whereas in H and lower color diamonds, medium blue fluorescence can enhance the stone's brilliance, making it appear whiter by offsetting any yellow tint with its complementary blue hue.

Please refer to our guide on diamond fluorescence for additional insights. 

"BGM" is an industry term that many consumers are unaware of. It is not mentioned in GIA reports, meaning it might go unnoticed during a diamond purchase.

BGM stands for Brown, Green, and Milky—subtle hues that can occur in diamonds regardless of their clarity or color grade, negatively affecting brilliance and fire. It’s essential to ask your dealer to check for any BGM characteristics. Reputable dealers committed to quality will ensure you receive a stone free from these undesirable traits.

Beyond the widely recognized 4Cs, buyers must acquaint themselves with the following critical diamond grading report or certificate details:

Watch the HD Video of this Diamond.

Measurements: This aspect holds significant importance as it provides the buyer with information regarding the diamond's surface size, indicating its apparent size in millimeters. Furthermore, it offers the length-to-width ratio by dividing the length by the width (in the case above, resulting in a ratio of 9.71/6.19=1.56).

Fluorescence: This should be regarded as the 5th C. Given the diamond's E color grade, avoiding fluorescence is the optimal choice in this example. However, medium blue fluorescence is not as concerning as strong blue fluorescence.

Comments: This section will display factors pertinent to clarity and highlight whether a diamond has undergone clarity enhancement utilizing laser drilling or color enhancement methods. Additionally, pay attention to comments like "clarity grade based on clouds," which is a worrisome indicator within clarity grades of VS2 and below. The laser inscription of the report number on the girdle is positioned above the comments section (an optional service for added verification).

Proportions: This chart is crucial in assessing the diamond's cut. Specifically, focus on the table percentage (64% in the provided example—excellent), depth percentage (63.2%—excellent), girdle (thick to very thick—very good), and culet (none—excellent).

Clarity Characteristics: This section will indicate the types of inclusions and their respective locations. It proves invaluable for buyers seeking to avoid diamonds with conspicuous inclusions at the center. Furthermore, these details help correlate the report with the diamond, as these inclusions are the diamond's distinctive birthmarks.

Over the last decade, our clients often considered the following four scenarios as they prioritized the 4Cs and determined the best diamond within their budget.

Scenario 1: Shoppers aim for the highest quality diamond possible within a carat range; we refer to these as "investment-grade diamonds" because of their rarity. In this range, shoppers often opt for D-E color diamonds, flawless VVS clarity, and excellent cuts with no fluorescence.

Scenario 2: This is our favorite scenario because buyers in this category often take a balanced approach, meaning they do not overly compromise on one C to maximize another. Diamonds in this category still fall within the investment-grade range. The best options under this category are FL-VS2 or even eye-clean SI1 clarity, F-H color, and excellent to very good cut diamonds with ideal proportions and no to medium blue fluorescence.

Scenario 3: Shoppers often do not mind compromising on the other 3Cs to get a bigger diamond. However, they still want the stone to be eye-clean with optimal brilliance. Hence, they would choose a 2 carat, SI1 clarity, I/J color diamond with a good to very good cut instead of a 1.5 carat, G color, VS2, and ideal cut diamond.

Scenario 4: Shoppers often know that to get a large stone within their budget, they must compromise on one C to maximize the other 3Cs. In this scenario, we recommend compromising on color and maximizing carat weight, clarity, and cut.

When buying a pear cut diamond, consider the seven key factors: shape, carat weight, cut, color, clarity, certification, and fluorescence.

Balancing the 4Cs proportionally is recommended.

Finally, purchasing a diamond graded by GIA is the safest approach, given that they are highly consistent in grading diamonds.

Key questions to address before purchasing include:

• Is the company reputable?
• Do they offer a lifetime service plan?
• Are fair lifetime upgrade options available?
• Do they accept returns for a full refund?

While natural diamonds are often preferred for special occasions, lab-grown diamonds provide a more affordable option for those on a tighter budget.

Notable references and mentions of Pear cut diamonds in press and popular culture:

1. "Diamond Hall of Fame: The Taylor-Burton Diamond" – Natural Diamonds.
2. "Observations of Oval-, Pear-, and Marquise-Shaped Diamonds: Implications for Fancy Cut Grading" – Gemological Institute of America.
3. "Adele's Engagement Ring Is Making Us All Want Pear Shaped Diamonds" – Hello Magazine.
4. "Expert Tips for Buying a Pear Shaped Diamond Ring" – Sotheby’s.
5. "This 17-Carat Harry Winston Diamond Ring Could Fetch $1 Million at Auction" – Robb Report.