PRINCESS CUT DIAMONDS

What Are Princess Cut Diamonds?

A princess cut diamond is a type of stone that should be square in shape and has pointed corners. It is a popular choice for engagement rings and other types of jewellery because of its modern and sleek appearance. The princess cut is a relatively new diamond cut, having been created in the 1960s by diamond cutter Arpad Nagy based out of London at the time it was then further developed in the 1980’s by other gem cutters giving it the look we know today.

It is typically comprised of 58 or 76 facets, depending on whether or not the bottom of the diamond is cut with additional facets for extra sparkle.

Princess cut diamonds can range in size and quality. It falls into the category of fancy shaped diamonds and therefore GIA does not have a cut grade on their reports for this type of diamond however we can look at the other 3 C’s carat weight, colour and clarity to give an initial indication of of the stone before delving deeper to understand how to choose a nice looking one.

On your GIA report or dossier you will see that  princess cut diamonds are called a square modified brilliant cut this is the technical term of the shape in the industry. Great care needs to be observed when choosing a princess cut diamonds for your bespoke engagement rings. This diamond will not have a cut grade on your GIA report so its a great idea see it or an image of the diamond before you buy as it can be the difference between getting a poor stone or a beautiful one.

Princess Cut Diamonds Length to Width Ratio

Its fairly straightforward with this shape you want it to be square, so the length and width need to be as close to each other as possible to get as close to 1:1. One thing to watch out for though in our experience a stone which has what appears to be the correct length and width but it could be cut with oblique angles giving the stone a shape like a rhombus.

If you’re unlucky enough to get one of these its impossible set this stone square so it will always look skewed from the top. Just remember if the deal looks too good to be true and you dont have images of the stone you should rely somewhat on your instincts and walk away if it doesn’t feel right.

Princess cut diamonds light leakage.

With princess cut diamonds were looking for brightness, light performance and scintillation. Any heavy dark areas in the stone or black patches means that there is escape of light and therefore poor optics which we don’t want.  Call us to discuss this in more detail at your appointment.

Girdle Thickness of Princess Cut Diamonds

As the princess stone has four points which are susceptible to damage we ensure that the edge is not extremely thin. The edge of the diamond is called the girdle. If this area is very very thin then with enough force the point or edge can chip.

Princess Cut Diamond Engagement Rings & Lab Grown Princess Cut Diamond Ring

This shape is admired for its clean lines, straight edges and pointed corners, giving it an icy crisp look. Its suitable for all styles of engagement rings something we have an extensive catalogue of. Whether its a lab grown princess cut diamond ring or a natural GIA certificated diamond we can guide you through the differences and various designs that work well with this shape of diamond.

Below is one of our timeless platinum princess cut diamond engagement rings we make. Parallel shoulders with a d shape profile and daylight shoulders really set off the princess cut diamond giving it finesse but with a bold look.