In our series on diamonds, we've talked about princess shaped diamonds, emerald shaped diamonds, cushion shaped diamonds, diamond solitaire engagement rings, and diamond shapes in general—as you can see, we LOVE diamonds, all shapes and sizes! It's why we do what we do!
Today we are going to venture into fancy-shaped or fancy cut* diamonds. Simply put, fancy-shaped diamonds include every shape that is not a round cut.
*Technically there is a difference between diamond shape and diamond cut. Shape refers to the geometric shape of the diamond and cut refers to the diamond's ability to reflect light, e.g. its brilliance, fire, and scintillation. These terms have tended to be used interchangeably but it never hurts to know the real difference, right?
Round shaped diamonds have always been the star of the diamond show. Did you know that about 70-80% of diamonds sold are round? The term “fancy shape” was coined in order to help bring attention and promote shapes other than the usual round shape diamond.
And these fancy shapes have been gaining popularity over the years. They are a perfect way to express your individuality and your own personal style.
Since we've already covered some fancy-shaped diamonds in our series (princess, emerald, and cushion ), now we are going to zero in on some other beautiful and breathtaking fancy diamond shapes: marquise, radiant, and pear!
While there are many technical ways to evaluate fancy-shaped diamonds--e.g. proportions, ratios--one of the best ways to assess a fancy-shaped diamonds is with your eyes! We always encourage our customers to do their homework, but when it comes down to it, you want to also pick with your eyes and heart.
The marquise cut is an incredibly sophisticated and stunning shape, and it has an interesting history to boot! King Louis XIV of France was so inspired by the Marquise of Pompadour 's lips that he had the marquise shaped diamond made to memorialize them!
This shape is also known as the navette, football-shaped cut, the boat-shaped cut, or the eye-shaped cut.
The pluses of this dramatic shape include its long and narrow dimensions as well as the fact that it has the greatest size per carat weight among all the other shapes...this is definitely a nice bonus!
There are a few things to be aware of when buying a marquise shaped diamond. Its sharp corners can be prone to chipping if it is not secured well by its prongs. Also, the two ends should align perfectly as the tiniest symmetry error can affect the balance of the gem when set on a ring.
If you are drawn to a marquise you probably have a love for luxury and showstopping style.
The radiant shaped diamond is truly a versatile shape and is becoming very popular! This shape is a combination of the faceting of the round brilliant cut and the framing of emerald and princess cuts. How could you go wrong with that, right?
The radiant with its extra facets tends to hide inclusions well and is more likely to produce greater light which makes this shape one of the most brilliant gems. It truly is radiant!
With its large facets, the radiant cut can easily show imperfections, so you might want to consider the highest color and clarity grading you would feel comfortable purchasing in order to avoid this.
If you are drawn to this shape, you love lots and lots of sparkle and dramatically-shaped diamonds!
The pear or teardrop shaped diamond is a striking combination of the classic round shape and the sophisticated marquise shape. What's nice about this shape is you can wear it two different ways: with the point up or down.
Its unique shape can make fingers look slimmer and is a very classy choice!
Be aware that the color of the diamond is more noticeable at the point of the pear, so be aware of the color grade you choose.
If you are drawn to the pear shaped diamond, get ready for lots of oohs and aahs and second looks. It is a beautiful diamond that garners a lot of attention for its wearer. And it's flexibility (wearing the point up or down) is sure to please those ladies who like to change things up on a regular basis.
So there you have it...fancy-shaped diamonds! Fancy-shaped diamonds are a lot of fun and offer so much versatility and variety. Which one do you like the best? There's no right or wrong choice...they are all beautiful!
We're honored that Mullen Bros. Jewelers ranks #1 in overall customer ratings among all jewelry stores in Southeastern Massachusetts and we will continue to take care of our neighbors and friends, one jewel at a time.
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