Tips for Buying Princess Cut Diamonds

 Princess Cut Diamond
 

Israel Itzkowitz of Ambar Diamonds created the princess cut diamond in 1979.  Three years of research went into the design to create a new faceted diamond that had similar optical properties to the round brilliant cut diamond.  It is now the second most popular diamond cut shape only exceeded by the round brilliant cut.

The overall shape of the diamond is a square or rectangle with the top of the diamond cut into a square shape and the body of the diamond is similar in shape to a pyramid.  The princess cut is usually less expensive than the round brilliant cut because not as much of the diamond needs to be cut away to get the desired finished shape.  The ability to retain more of the crystal weight makes this shape popular amongst diamond cutters.  The diameter of the princess diamond is usually smaller than that of a round diamond with the same carat weight, and the length is usually longer than that of a round cut.  Some of the brilliance is sacrafice in order to have this unique square shape.

 Princess Cut Ring
 

Tastes may vary but the minimum recommendations for buying a princess cut diamond are as follows:

Cut should be Very Good.

Color should be G or better.

Clarity of the diamond should be VS2 or better.

Percentage of depth to width needs to be 58 to 80 percent.

Princess cut diamonds are considered brilliant-style shaped because this particular cut takes advantage of the light with their vertically angled crown and tent-like facets, by bouncing the light around within the diamond.  Princess-cut stones sparkle more than ordinary square-cut diamonds and after seeing one it’s easy to understand why they call it brilliant cut. 

When a diamond crystal is being examined the gem cutters try to determine the cut that will allow for not only the best look but also the best profit margin, after all they are businesspeople as well as artists.  The carat weight yield of a princess-cut diamond can be as high as 62% higher than that of a round cut counterpart.  It is not uncommon for both of these cuts to be cut from one single crystal.  The rough diamond is simply sliced in half through the middle and one half will be come a princess cut and the other a round cut.  It is also easer for natural flaws to be hidden in the uncut corners of the princess cut diamond.

Flaws or inclusions are small bubbles of gas, liquid or other impurities that were caught inside the diamond crystal during its formation and are quite common.  The uncut corners of the diamond are usually hidden by the four-prong used to hold the diamond in the setting of the jewelry.  Although you may not be able to see these flaws, the flaws are week points and proper care must still be taken to protect the diamond from becoming chipped or even cracked.

If you love the fire of the traditional round brilliant cut but want something a little different, you might just fall in love with the icy fire of the princess cut.  Since it was designed to get the maximum brilliance from a square cut you will get a little more carat weight for your money.