Emerald Cut Diamonds
The ‘Emerald Cut’ was originally developed for cutting emeralds, not diamonds.
The Emerald Cut is a very bold and solid feeling cut. It can be absolutely stunning because of its long lines it tends to be less fiery than a round brilliant cut. It also tends to have broader, more dramatic flashes of light. The trim lines of emerald cut diamonds lend an elegant, sophisticated air to both the simplest and most elaborate ring settings.
The Emerald Cut is rectangular with cut corners. It is a step cut as opposed to a brilliant cut. A step cut diamond has sloping, four sided facets that are cut below the table and run parallel to the diamond’s girdle. There are fewer facets in a step cut diamond than in a brilliant cut diamond but they tend to have more facets than baguettes. The most preferred Emerald Cuts are those with the length-to-width ratio being 1.30-1.65:1.
When purchasing an emerald cut diamond, it is extremely important to pay attention to quality and to select the highest grade stone you can afford. Flaws and color weakness are more noticeable in Emerald Cut Diamonds than in other cuts. Because they don’t look as good as brilliant cuts, emerald cuts normally sell for less than a brilliant cut of the same quality. The emerald cut diamonds are not as “traditional” as round brilliant or as trendy as the princess cut, in which case people who prefer their jewelry to be quieter and more understated would prefer emerald cut.
The recommended proportions that should be checked for when purchasing the Emerald cut include, ‘G’ color, VS2 clarity, 58% to 69% depth range. This can be guaranteed when purchased from a certified Diamond merchant.
Princess Cut Diamonds
The Princess Cut is relatively new. It is a very attractive cut that gives out maximum brilliance from a square cut. It is effectively a square version of the round brilliant cut and is known as the square modified brilliant cut. The square or rectangular cut was invented about 30 years ago by Basil Watermeyer from Johannesburg. It was then known as the Barion cut. This was a style with extra and improved so as to obtain maximum brilliance from the diamond.
The square stone are better for certain design application such as eternity rings, as they can be set in one continuous line with no gaps between them such as would be with round stones.
The Princess Cut diamond is more forgiving of diamond flaws. Any inclusions are less visible and any slight yellowish color is less noticeable. Also because of the extra faceting, princess cuts are naturally more brilliant and sparkly than ordinary square diamonds.
What to watch out for is that the setting for your princess cut diamond protects the four pointed corners as these are the points prone to chipping. A recommendation for a good princess cut diamond is having a depth percentage range of 58-80% and table of 58-77%.
While not the traditional selection, princess cut engagement rings are becoming very popular either as a solitaire or with accent stones.
For more information about emerald or princess cut diamonds visit http://www.whatarediamonds.com
Article Source: American Chronicle
Artile Author: Ally Too
