We aim to make choosing your perfect wedding or engagement ring as easy and stress-free as possible, which is why we offer flexible no obligation consultation options to suit your needs. Explore a wide range of stunning rings and receive tailored advice in the setting that works best for you.
If you have a query that you don't feel requires an appointment please feel free to WhatsApp us by clicking here
Diamonds are not only a symbol of everlasting love and luxury but also a fascinating world of varied shapes, each with its unique charm and allure. Whether you're in search of the perfect engagement ring, considering an investment in these precious diamonds, or simply curious about the artistry behind diamond cutting. Explore the intricacies of classic round brilliants, the elegance of princess cuts, the vintage appeal of emerald cuts, and many more.
What is a Brilliant cut diamond?
A brilliant cut is designed to maximise a diamond's brilliance and sparkle through a complex arrangement of numerous small, triangular, and kite-shaped facets, typically with 58 facets, this cut enhances light reflection and refraction within the diamond, creating a high level of brilliance and fire. The round brilliant cut is the most common and popular form, known for its dazzling appearance and widespread use in engagement rings and fine jewellery. The design focuses on symmetry and precise angles to achieve optimal light performance, making the diamond appear exceptionally bright and sparkling.
What is a Step cut Diamond
A step cut diamond features parallel facets arranged in a step-like fashion, creating a series of terraces on the diamond. Common examples include the emerald cut and the Asscher cut. Step cuts emphasise clarity and lustre over brilliance, producing broad, mirror-like flashes of light. They offer a more subdued, elegant appearance, highlighting the stone's clarity and colour.
Brilliant cut and step cut diamonds differ primarily in their faceting styles, resulting in distinct visual characteristics. The brilliant cut is ideal for those who prefer a dazzling, fiery appearance. In contrast, the step cut emphasises clarity and lustre over brilliance, offering a more subdued, elegant look. Step cut diamonds highlight the stone's transparency and colour, making any inclusions more visible but providing a sophisticated, mirror-like effect. Thus, the choice between a brilliant cut and a step cut ultimately depends on whether you value scintillation and sparkle or clarity and understated elegance.
What are the different diamond shapes?
Now that we have an understanding into the styles of diamond cuts, let's now delve into specific diamond shapes, their rich history, and charming appeal.
Round
Round brilliant diamonds are the most popular and widely recognised diamond shape, known for their exceptional brilliance and fire.
Oval
Oval diamonds are an elegant and sophisticated choice, combining the brilliance of the round brilliant cut with a distinctive elongated shape.
Emerald
Emerald-shaped diamonds are renowned for their elegant and sophisticated appearance, characterised by their rectangular shape and large, open facets.
Pear
Pear-shaped diamonds, are celebrated for their unique and elegant silhouette that combines the best features of the round brilliant and marquise cuts.
Princess
Princess diamonds are a popular and modern choice, renowned for their sharp, angular beauty and exceptional brilliance.
Marquise
Marquise-shaped diamonds are elegant and sophisticated; distinguished by their elongated slender shape with pointed ends.
Heart
Heart-shaped diamonds are a romantic and distinctive choice, celebrated for their unmistakable symbolism and unique shape.
Diamond Guides
Cover the key points when it comes to selecting the perfect diamond.
Diamonds are cut into shapes to enhance their beauty. The cutting process involves shaping and faceting the rough diamond to reflect and refract light, which creates brilliance, fire, and scintillation. By carefully planning and executing the cut, skilled gem cutters can highlight the stone's inherent qualities, such as its clarity and colour, while minimising any flaws or inclusions. The art of diamond cutting transforms a rough, unremarkable stone into a dazzling, highly sought-after gem that captivates the eye and showcases the diamond's true potential.
Diamond Shape Vs Diamond Cut
The terms "diamond shape" and "diamond cut" refer to different aspects of a diamond's appearance and quality, and they are often confused but are distinctly different:
Diamond Shape: This term refers to the outline or form of the diamond when viewed from above. Shapes can vary widely, and some of the most popular include round, princess, oval, emerald, marquise, pear, cushion, and heart. The shape of a diamond is a matter of personal preference and style.
Diamond Cut: This term refers to the quality and precision of the diamond's facets, angles, proportions, symmetry, and polish. The cut determines how well the diamond interacts with light, affecting its brilliance, fire, and scintillation. A well-cut diamond will reflect and refract light optimally, resulting in a dazzling appearance. The cut is graded by standards such as Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor. It is an important factor in the diamond's overall beauty and value, independent of its shape.
There are two main styles that diamonds are cut, these are "brilliant cut" and "step cut".
Wedding and Engagement Ring Consultations
We aim to make choosing your perfect wedding or engagement ring as easy and stress-free as possible, which is why we offer flexible no obligation consultation options to suit your needs. Choose from either a virtual online appointment, in-person at our showroom in Hessle near Hull, or our new service Joshua James at Home where we bring the showroom to you. At this appointment we can go through your ideas and help you to create the perfect piece of jewellery within a budget you are happy with.
If you have a query that you don't feel requires an appointment please feel free to WhatsApp us by clicking here
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Maximum Sparkle: The brilliant cut features numerous facets (typically 58) arranged in a way that optimises light return, making the diamond incredibly sparkly and eye-catching.
Popularity and Tradition: The round brilliant cut is the most popular diamond shape, often associated with classic engagement rings. Its timeless appeal makes it a safe, stylish choice.
Masking Inclusions: The brilliance and intense sparkle of this cut can help to mask minor inclusions and imperfections, making the diamond appear clearer and of higher quality.
Colour Reflection: The way light travels through a brilliant cut diamond can also help to downplay any slight colour tint, often making the stone appear whiter than it is.
Modern Appeal: Brilliant cuts are often seen as more modern and fashionable, fitting well with contemporary jewellery designs.
Elegance and Sophistication: Step cut diamonds, such as the emerald and Asscher cuts, exude a refined, classic aesthetic with their sleek, linear facets. This design offers a sophisticated and timeless appeal.
Highlighting Clarity: Step cuts have large, open facets that emphasise the stone's clarity. They highlight the diamond's natural transparency, making them ideal for high-clarity stones.
Subtle Sparkle: Unlike the intense sparkle of brilliant cuts, step cut diamonds reflect light in broad, mirror-like flashes, offering a more subtle, elegant sparkle. This creates a calm, sophisticated look rather than a fiery brilliance.
Vintage and Art Deco Appeal: Step cut diamonds often evoke a vintage or Art Deco feel, making them a perfect choice for those who love antique or vintage-inspired jewellery.
Unique Look: Step cuts are less common than brilliant cuts, providing a unique and distinctive appearance. Choosing a step cut can be a way to stand out with a less traditional, more exclusive style.
Versatility in Larger Stones: The step cut's structure works particularly well with larger diamonds, as the broad facets and open table can beautifully display the stone's size and natural beauty.
What diamond shapes look biggest?
Each diamond shape has its own character and charm. There is no right or wrong when choosing an engagement ring, it is purely down to personal preference. However, factually and mathematically speaking, the shape of a diamond influences its surface area, which affects how large it appears when viewed from above. For instance, elongated shapes like marquise, oval, and pear cuts tend to have a larger surface area compared to round diamonds of the same carat weight, making them look bigger. In contrast, more compact shapes like round and princess cuts can appear smaller due to a more condensed surface area.
This leads me onto the specific proportions of a diamond shape, let's use Round as an example: The depth and table (the flat top facet of the diamond) proportions of a diamond also play a crucial role. Diamonds with a greater depth (more weight concentrated below the girdle) will appear smaller on top, while those with a shallower cut can have a larger table and appear bigger. But a shallower diamond - while having a larger diameter, may also look smaller due to the lack of fire and scintillation. An ideal proportioned stone will reflect more light, creating a sparkling effect due to the intense play of light.
Is bigger always better?
In the world of diamonds... no, no it's not. When buying a diamond there is of course the '4Cs' (cut, colour, clarity and carat) to consider, but before that our first piece of advice will always be look at your budget. If you have chosen a shape of diamond for your engagement ring, we will advise you on what 'Cs' to prioritise specific to the diamond shape or style of cut and ensure you get the best diamond for your money.
