Diamond Style
Let's talk about diamond style, shall we? When we look at diamonds, all a lot of us see are bright, round gemstones, but there is so much more to them than that!
There are actually many different "Fancy Shapes" out there; round is just one of them. To ignore fancy shapes is to miss out on a whole world of different diamond styles!
Let's first look at the different types of shapes. There are four basic shape types: modified brilliant cuts, step cuts, mixed cuts, and old world cuts.
I bet you're wondering why we're bringing cuts when we were just talking about shapes. Well, the cut of the diamond gives it its shape.
Once a diamond cutter decides what type of cut to use, the next choice is what the final diamond shape will be. Each shape has its foundation in the type of cut.
For example, if the step cut is chosen, rectangular and square shapes will open up resulting in a high luster for the finished diamond.
This takes us to the shapes.
There are many different diamond shapes today, with more created all the time. But, let's keep things simple, shall we?
There are currently 13 shapes that have withstood the test of time and remain popular today. They are the Round, Oval, Asscher, Princess, Pear, Cushion, Emerald, Marquise Trillian, Radiant, Heart, Baguette, Old Miner, and European.
Don't worry about memorizing these – you won't be quizzed!
OK, let's break these down into groups so you have a good idea of what to expect.
First – The Brilliants and Modified Brilliants.
The Round, Oval, Pear, Marquise, Heart, and Trillian shapes all fit here. These diamonds are cut in the "brilliant" fashion which means that they bring out the diamond's brilliance, or fire.
These shapes are usually pretty playful. For example, the Marquise shape comes from Louis XIV, who wanted a diamond to mimic the smile of the Marquis de Pompadour!
Now we have the mixed cuts.
The two shapes that typify this style are the Princess and the Radiant. These diamonds are typically similar to the common round brilliant diamonds but have a square shape and long rectangular facets on the crown.
The main thing about these two shapes is that they save more of the rough diamond. What this means is that carat for carat, these shapes will be less expensive than brilliant round diamonds.
Next up we have the step cut.
The step cut is epitomized by the Asscher, Emerald, and Baguette styles. All of these shapes are distinguished by their large flat planes.
The facets are cut in a step-like fashion that accentuates the luster of the diamond rather than the brilliance. Because of this, it is always important to choose diamonds high in clarity as flaws will be more noticeable on the long mirror-like facets.
Lastly we have the old world cut.
The Cushion, Old Miner, and European shapes all fit here. These diamond styles were all created at a time when diamonds were cut and polished entirely by hand. They were also introduced before the 20th century as well as the creation of the brilliant diamond cut.
These shapes tend to be very romantic with fewer and larger facets than what we see today. These diamonds are best viewed by candle or gaslight rather than the harsh lighting of today.
As you can see, there are many different diamond shapes and styles. Each shape has its own distinctive style which means that no matter what your personal preferences, you are bound to find the style that meets your needs.
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