Diamond Shapes: Knowing your diamonds

Diamonds can captivate, spellbind and express emotions that cannot otherwise be put into words. Whether it is the ramp walks of the fashion capitals of the world, or somewhere more intimate, like a one-on-one proposal after a home cooked meal, a diamond is equally at home in any setting. A must-have for your beloved, a great investment and a status symbol for those who want to display their wealth and status, diamonds fit many roles and many needs, with equal aplomb.

From the 2nd century B.C Rome, when they were first put into rings and other ornaments to embellish them and create statements of perfection, diamonds have been cut into various shapes, to both enhance their appeal, and to make them suitable for use in various pieces of jewelry.

In this part of our series of the world’s favorite shapes in diamonds, we will take a closer look at Cushion cut, Emerald Cut and Radiant Cut Diamonds. We will examine their distinct features, explore their differences and discover the kinds of jewelry they fit best into. So without further ado, let us begin our exploration…

Cushion Cut Diamonds:

Cushion cut diamonds, often referred to as ‘old mine cut’ diamonds, combine a square cut with rounded corners. This gives the finished diamond the appearance of a cushion or pillow, lending to its name. These diamonds are amongst one of the oldest cut of diamonds still in use, with their history dating back nearly two centuries. So popular were they, that until the opening decades of the 20th century they were often the de-facto cut of diamonds, which simply meant that compared to other shapes, they were the preferred shape/style of a diamond.

While other shaped diamonds like Asscher, Oval and Marquise have been significantly popular in the 20th century, steady research in improving the grade and standards of Cushion Cut diamonds, see their resurgence today.

Based on research by Marcel Tolkowsky in the 1920's, refinements to cushion cut diamonds over time (such as shrinking the culet, enlarging the table, and improving cut angles for increased brilliance), have led to resurgence in popularity. Many buyers are attracted to the antique feel combined with modern performance offered by the cushion cut.

Perfect for both solitaire pendants and chunky engagement rings, Cushion Cut diamonds lend an old-world charm and nostalgic flair to any piece that you may pick out.

Emerald Cut Diamonds:

An elegant if somewhat offbeat cut of diamond is the Emerald Cut. The unique look of the Emerald Cut diamond is created by the step cuts of its pavilion and its large, open table. Instead of the sparkle of a brilliant-cut, emerald cut diamonds produce a hall-of-mirrors effect, with the interplay of light and dark planes. 

Emerald Cut Diamond

While the individual ‘fire’ and brilliance of an Emerald Cut diamond isn’t comparable to any of the other cut of diamonds, the long lines and dramatic flashes of light give the emerald cut an elegant appeal. The shape was originally developed for the cutting of emeralds, thus the name. Emeralds cut diamonds vary from nearly square to a narrow rectangle. The classic emerald cut diamond has a length to width ratio of around 1.50.

Wildly popular for making pendants and rings for men, the Emerald Cut is a unique and beautiful, albeit dramatic and not for everyone option, when considering buying a diamond for your loved one!

Radiant Cut Diamonds:

The radiant cut diamond is the first square cut (the second being the princess) to have a complete brilliant-cut facet pattern applied to both the crown and pavilion, creating a vibrant and lively square diamond. Form factor aside, this type of diamond, has a radiance which is unique to square cut diamonds!

Radiant Cut Diamond

First popular in the 1980's, the cropped corner square shape of the radiant is a nice bridge between a cushion and a princess cut, and for that reason looks beautiful set with both rounded or square cornered diamonds.