Pear-Cut Diamonds

Elegant, unique and eye-catching, the pear-cut diamond is enjoying renewed popularity. Radiant with sparkle, the pear-shaped diamond follows a distinctly curvaceous and feminine shape. The pear-shaped diamond also resembles a teardrop, and like tears of joy, can represent your indescribable happiness.

What is a Pear-Cut Diamond?

The pear-cut diamond shape is the unique combination of the round and marquise diamond shapes. As one of only two asymmetrical diamond shapes, the pear-cut features a tapered point on only one end and contains 58 facets. Pear-cut diamonds are as rare as they are stunning. Considered a modified brilliant-cut, the pear-cut sparkles as brightly as round and princess-cut diamonds but are considerably harder to find. Only about four percent of diamonds are cut into the pear shape, and only a small percentage of those are cut correctly. For these reasons, finding a well-cut pear-shaped diamond is truly an extraordinary find.

History of the Pear-Cut Diamond

The pear-cut is unique in that its invention revolutionized the diamond trade. Shortly after inventing the truly groundbreaking diamond polishing wheel, or scaif, Flemish diamond cutter Lodewyk van Berken cut the very first pear-shaped diamond in the 1450s. He pioneered the symmetrical arrangement of facets within a diamond, which, in turn, led him to create the first pear-cut.

With his scaif, Van Berken was able to polish every facet of a diamond. This innovative approach helped create enhanced light refraction within a diamond. As a result of van Berken’s ingenious wheel design and technique, diamonds became more commonly used in fine jewelry pieces.

Grading System of Peoples Pear-Cut Diamonds

At Peoples, we rely on trusted experts from different gemological laboratories to grade our precious stones.

To determine a diamond’s grade, these labs inspect each diamond under closely controlled lighting and viewing conditions. Trained grading professionals use highly calibrated measurement devices to capture important data for use in determining the pear-cut diamond’s quality. These experts will then grade our pear-cut diamonds on the following determinations:

Pear-Cut Carat

Each diamond is measured using the carat weight system. Diamond experts use specially calibrated scales to ensure accurate measurements with weights measured to the hundred-thousandths of a carat. One metric carat equals 0.2 grams.

Pear-Cut Length-to-Width Ratio

Our diamond experts determine a pear-cut diamond's length-to-width ratio by dividing the length of the diamond by its width. This ratio determines how proportionate the diamond is in relation to its intended shape.

Pear-Cut Colour

Blemishes within each pear-cut diamond are noted by our experts as clarity concerns. The laboratory grades clarity as one of six grades – Flawless, Internally Flawless, Very Very Small Inclusions, Very Small Inclusions, Small Inclusions, or Imperfect.

Because many small inclusions or blemishes are only visible to an industry professional with highly calibrated equipment, choosing your perfect pear diamond for purchase is largely a subjective process.

Regardless of which diamond you ultimately choose, be sure to determine whether or not any inclusions are visible to the human eye when evaluating a pear-cut diamond for purchase.

Pro-tip: due to the nature of the cut, pear-cut diamonds tend to conceal small inclusions very well – especially on the pointed end.

What To Look For in a Pear-Cut Diamond

When looking for the perfect pear-cut diamond for an engagement ring, the overall appearance of the stone is generally more important than the specific proportions of the cut. When shopping for a pear-cut diamond, personal taste should be the top priority. At Peoples, we also recommend the following guidelines to help match your personal style to the quality you deserve:

Symmetry: The ideal pear-cut diamond will have excellent symmetry, with the tip of the point lining up perfectly with the apex of the rounded end. The sides of the diamond should have uniform curves without straight edges, and each side should be symmetrical.
Shape: Pay close attention to the outline of a pear-cut diamond. This shape should have delicately sloping sides and the rounded end should form a perfect semi-circle. A pear-cut diamond should not appear squared or flat.
Setting: A prong setting should always be used at the point end of a pear-cut diamond to avoid chipping. Also, the pointed end of a pear-cut diamond is the most likely area of the diamond to contain inclusions, as it was once the outer edge of the rough diamond. A prong setting at the point will help to detract from any inclusions once the diamond is set.
Bow-Tie Effect: Because of their shape, pear-cut diamonds may often show a “Bow-Tie Effect,” or a dark pattern through the center of the diamond that detracts from its brilliance. Insist on examining a variety of pear-shaped diamonds under several different lighting conditions to determine the presence or severity of a bow-tie prior to purchase.

Is a Pear-Cut Diamond Right for Me?

A well-cut pear-shaped diamond features a unique shape with exquisite brilliance. Those who march to the beat of their own drum tend to appreciate the pear shape as it has a different look from any other cut. Additionally, the pear-cut’s shape complements small, slender hands well as it helps to elongate the fingers and hands.

The pear shape is exceptionally versatile. Pear-cut diamonds look stunning as a solitaire ring or wrapped with a halo of smaller accent diamonds. Traditionally, the pear-cut diamond is worn with the pointed end towards the wearer’s wrist, however it’s becoming more and more common to see the pear-cut worn away from the wrist or even laterally for a truly modern look. A pear-cut diamond is the ideal choice for those who appreciate timeless elegance with a touch of contemporary uniqueness.