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Princess-Cut Diamonds
Your relationship is as unique as the diamond that symbolizes it. Imagine a stunning engagement ring centered with a breathtaking princess-cut diamond.
Sleek, classic and sophisticated the princess-cut diamond represents your everlasting love and devotion. As one of the most popular diamond cuts, the princess-cut diamond features sparkle and shine that sets it apart from other square-shaped diamonds.
What is a Princess-Cut Diamond?
The second-most popular shape for diamonds purchased today is the princess-cut. Second only to the round brilliant cut diamond, princess-cut diamonds are popular for engagement rings and wedding bands as they offer brilliance and sparkle in a modern and sophisticated design.
Because they are often compared to the round, princess-cut diamonds are sometimes referred to as “Square Modified Brilliants.” Depending on the length-to-width ratio, princess-cut diamonds may also be known as "Rectangular Modified Brilliants."
The princess-cut diamond features pointed corners and is cut into either a square or a slight rectangular shape. Inspired by French design, the princess-cut was created in the 1960s and has gained in popularity as modern, distinct designs have become more sought after in fine jewellery.
The shape of a princess-cut diamond is made up of either 57 or 76 facets (sides). The princess-cut diamond features a pyramid shape and four beveled sides. This design creates more light dispersion than any other square-shaped diamond and gives the princess-cut a beautiful and highly desired brilliance.
What’s more, princess-cut diamonds are usually cut from extremely well-formed rough diamond crystals. This means that princess-cut diamonds are more likely to be cut from a cleaner rough diamond as compared to other shapes.
History of the Princess-Cut Diamond
The princess-cut shape was inspired by the early “French” cut. This diamond shape featured a series of unique, chevron-shaped facets that radiated a distinct cross-shaped reflection when the stone was viewed directly through the table.
The modern princess-cut is a relatively new diamond cut. It has evolved throughout the second half of the 21st century with contributions and improvements made by several renowned international diamond cutters.
An early version of the princess-cut shape was used in connection with another cut: the “profile” cut. Arpad Nagy, a London diamond cutter, is credited with creating the “profile” cut in 1961. Almost a decade later, Ambar Diamonds in Los Angeles began cutting and distributing the quadrillion cut diamond - an impressive square cut featuring 49 facets.
In 1971, expert South African cutter Basil Watermeyer created the Barion cut. This diamond cut featured a square cut and rounded corners.
Finally, Israeli diamond cutters Ygal Perlman, Betzalel Ambar, and Israel Itzkowitz further interpreted the “French” cut. In 1979, they created the modern princess-cut we know and love today.
Following the creation of these early versions of the princess-cut, years of optical research yielded the now-popular modern princess-cut: a square stone with faceting and brilliance similar to that of a brilliant round-cut diamond.
For those looking for a beautiful and modern diamond, the princess-cut may be the perfect option. The versatility of the princess-cut lends itself well to a variety of settings. The princess-cut diamond is especially popular for engagement or wedding bands as the shape allows stones to be set side-by-side without gaps.
Grading System of Peoples Princess-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 princess-cut diamond’s quality. These experts will then grade our princess-cut-cut diamonds on the following determinations:
Princess-Cut Carat
The weight of the diamond is measured using the carat system. Diamond experts uses specialized scales to ensure an accurate weight measurement with weights measured to the hundred-thousandths of a carat. In the carat system, one metric carat is equal to 0.2 gram. That's why expert measurements and calibrated tools matter so much when it comes to determining diamond quality.
Because of their shape, princess-cut diamonds tend to have a higher carat-weight for their size when compared to their round-shaped counterparts.
Princess-Cut Clarity
Princess-cut diamond clarity refers to the appearance of the stone, which notes any blemishes or inclusions. Diamond experts score square diamond clarity as one of six grades – Flawless, Internally Flawless, Very Very Small Inclusions, Very Small Inclusions, Small Inclusions, or Imperfect.
When looking at diamonds, much of the decision process may seem subjective. Many blemishes may only be visible to a professional with highly-specialized equipment. When evaluating the clarity of a diamond, one of the most important factors is whether or not the diamond appears to look clear to the human eye. Some buyers may prefer to know that their princess diamond is certified as flawless while others may not mind minor blemishes that are invisible to the naked eye.
If you or your partner prefer a more flawless appearance, you’ll want to choose a Flawless or Internally Flawless diamond. If small imperfections do not stand out to you or your partner, then a Very Small Inclusions or Small Inclusions grade may be preferred.
Princess-Cut Colour
The industry standard for grading princess-cut diamond colour uses a system that begins with a D grade (colourless) and continues alphabetically with increasing levels of colour to a Z grade.
Diamonds are compared to master stones with known colour grades. Our diamond experts utilize master stone sets that are chosen based on rigorous standards and tested prior to use.
To the naked eye, diamond colour is closely tied to the size of the princess-cut diamond and the setting. Small differences in diamond colour are often difficult for the naked human eye to see but may still account for a large difference in the price of the princess-cut diamond.
Additionally, the setting colour and material selected for your princess-cut diamond can make an immense difference in the diamond’s colour. Ideally, a traditional diamond should always look colourless against its setting. For instance, a diamond with a yellow tint will shine best in a yellow-gold setting. For this reason, we strongly recommend keeping your setting options in mind when shopping for your princess-cut diamond and evaluating its colour.
Princess-Cut Quality
The proportions of a princess-cut diamond determine how brilliantly the diamond will shine.
Grading of a diamond’s cut is determined by examining its angles, facets, and polish. Overall, the goal of attaining a good cut of diamond is to create a diamond that has the correct proportions to allow the maximum amount of light to travel through. This will give the diamond a beautiful sparkle, or scintillation, that your partner will love.
Similarly, the goal when cutting a princess diamond is to create a finished product that is not too deep or too shallow, with a balanced number of chevrons. A princess-cut diamond with too many chevrons on the pavilion side may take on what is referred to as a “crushed ice” look.
Each diamond is given one of the following grades for its cut: Ideal, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Medium, Fair, or Poor. A high-quality diamond cut will feature proportions that allow optimal light reflection through the crown and table – emitting a beautiful, brilliant sparkle.
Cushion-Cut Diamonds: Conclusion
Cushion-cut diamonds have seen ebbs and flow in popularity for almost 200 years. These classically beautiful diamonds have an antique feel with a modern performance backed by generations of development. Many buyers are attracted to the vintage charm of this diamond cut.
Although cushion-cuts diamonds are generally not as brilliant as round-cuts, some variations of the cushion-cut give off an incomparable sparkle and scintillation. With the many variations of cushion-cut diamonds, the shape offers options for every taste: from large and chunky facets to a “crushed ice” look with no discernible facets. The process of creating a cushion-cut diamond maximizes its light-dispersing capabilities, making it a beautifully dynamic diamond and an excellent choice in jewellery.
Looking for an engagement ring that offers a glam vintage feel with modern precision? Shop an amazing selection of cushion-cut diamond engagement rings at Peoples Jewellers today.
Princess-Cut Diamonds: Conclusion
The princess-cut is the second most popular diamond shape on the market today. Princess-cut diamond also accounts for 23% of online searches for diamonds. The princess-cut is often considered a more distinctive and sophisticated option when compared to the more popular round brilliant-cut.
Though frequently compared to the round shape, the princess-cut features unique faceting styles completely different from round-cut options. Due to the squared or rectangular shape, princess-cut diamonds can have stones set side-by-side with no gaps. This makes the princess-cut diamond popular for engagement and wedding bands, most notably as used in infinity bands -- one of the more popular wedding and anniversary band styles for many couples today.
For the diamond style that makes the statement you want, shop Peoples selection of high-quality princess-cut diamond engagement rings.