With even a modicum of eyeballing, anyone can see that Emerald cut diamonds are one of the most eye-popping shapes around. Celebrities the world over like Amal Clooney, Beyonce' and Jennifer Lopez, have recently sported emerald cut rocks in their engagement rings, and it is always front-page news. The emerald cut is frequently associated with strong women who appreciate beauty but may not need a flashy sparkler. What is it about the Emerald cut that makes it so intriguing?
The History of the Emerald cut
Loaded with history, the emerald cut holds the entire mythos of gemstone cuttings. The shape descends from one of the first gemstone cuts, the simple “table” cut, used by the earliest gem cutters at the beginning of the gem trade. In this original technique, cutters created a flat plane through which light could enter a stone by cleaving off one end of the pointed diamond crystal. This resultant facet reflected a spectrum of fire back to the viewer’ s eye.
Over time, advancements in technology allowed cutters to add more parallel planes down the sides of the stone. This released even more visual fire, as well as created the “hall of mirrors” effect that is the hallmark of this cut.
The Look
The recent rise in popularity actually sparked in the 1920’s, with the rise of Art Deco, a design style that prized clean, straight lines and high contrast. To today’s customer, this is the basis for the “vintage” look, a look that signifies “timelessness,” a quality desirable to many couples as they become engaged.
As you’ll see in Art Deco objects, artistic restraint is key when designing with this simple, dramatic cut. Consider adding only a few side baguettes to enhance the center stone’s architectural lines. Resist the temptation to add too many flourishes, although a halo of tiny round diamonds outlining the shape is an elegant look. The simple design you choose now will shine for decades and never go out of fashion.
Because we can see so deeply into an emerald cut diamond, clarity should be top-of-mind when choosing your stone. Stones should be eye-clean (at least a VS1 if not VVS2 in clarity), meaning you can’t see any obvious clarity characteristics without magnification. Because clarity is considered the high priority, color plays a supporting role in viewing this eye candy. This gives you great latitude in choosing your setting, as emerald cuts look elegant in both yellow and white golds, as well as in platinum.
The Emerald Cut diamond is a shape of enduring beauty. Its seemingly simple facets reflect an aspect many couples seek when becoming engaged, an endless depth.
FAQs
Recommended proportions for AN EMERALD cut diamond
| Excellent | Good |
|---|
| Depth % | 61-67 | 54-56.9 or 74.1-79 |
| Girdle | Very Thin to Slighty Thick | Very Thin to Very Thick |
| Cutlet | None | Small |
| Length to widtch ratio | 1.4 to 1.5 | 1.2 to 1.29 or 1.61 to 1.8 |
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Nonetheless, emerald-cut diamond engagement rings are an exquisite choice because of their sleek look. Their elongated shape makes them appear bigger than other diamond shapes, which also has a slenderizing effect on the finger.
What should I prioritize in an emerald cut diamond? ›
Clarity. “You should prioritize clarity for your Emerald diamond. Their larger facets won't hide inclusions as easily as smaller facets do. VS1 is a good safety zone for most Emerald diamonds.
What is the most important C in emerald cut diamond? ›
For this reason, clarity is one of the most important gradings to consider for an emerald cut diamond. Step cut stones are generally not as bright and never as fiery as brilliant cut stones.
What is the best color grade for emerald cut diamond? ›
| Cut | Excellent to Very Good |
|---|
| Colour | D – F |
| Clarity | VS2 or higher |
| Carat weight | The dimensions are more important than the weight |
| Symmetry | Excellent to Very Good |
4 more rowsThe marquise diamond shape has the largest appearance of any shape. It has a similar elongated look as the oval and pear shapes, but both ends form tapered points. The marquise shape will always look the largest because those tapered points create the largest surface area of all the shapes.
What does an emerald cut diamond say about you? ›
The Emerald Cut diamond is an elongated favorite among individuals who appreciate clean lines, sophistication, and understated elegance. They often have a refined and discerning taste, valuing quality over quantity.
How to pick the best emerald cut diamond? ›
Most emerald cut diamonds have length to width ratios ranging from 1.30 to 1.50. A ratio of 1.40 is considered “ideal”. However, ratios are dependent on personal preference. A lower ratio should be chosen for a more square shape, while for an elongated, more rectangular shape, a higher ratio is best.
What is the second most popular cut for engagement ring? ›
The square-shaped princess cut diamond comes second in popularity. Although square-shaped diamonds have roots going back centuries, the princess cut itself is a relative newcomer to the engagement ring market. However, the exact number of facets and their arrangement are not standardized.
Is VS2 OK for emerald cut? ›
A Very Good cut grade is the best cut grade possible for an emerald cut diamond, giving you a beautiful center stone for your engagement ring. A VS2 clarity grade is a great choice for an emerald cut diamond since emerald cut diamonds reveal flaws more easily than other diamond shapes.
Emerald Cut Diamond - Cut Guide
| EXCELLENT | VERY GOOD |
|---|
| Table % | 61 - 69 | 57 - 60 or 70 - 72 |
| Depth % | 61 - 67 | 59 - 60.9 or 67.1 - 70 |
| Girdle | Very Thin - Slightly Thick |
| Culet | None | Very Small |
Diamond cut is the single most important of the 4Cs when it comes to the physical beauty of a diamond. Why? Because a diamond's cut determines how much it sparkles. The number of facets, the angle of the facets, and the symmetry and alignment of the shape will affect how the diamond returns light.
What is the ideal cut diamond size? ›
Best Diamond Proportions for Every Diamond Shape
| Shape | Depth % | L to W Ratio |
|---|
| Round Brilliant Cut | 59 – 62.6% | 1.0 – 1.03 |
| Princess Cut | 68 – 74% | 1.0 – 1.04 |
| Cushion Cut | 61 – 68% | 1.0 – 1.08 (sq) 1.15 – 1.25 (rect) |
| Emerald Cut | 61 – 68% | 1.30 – 1.45 |
6 more rowsA 1 carat Emerald cut diamond measures around 7 by 5 mm, while the size range of a 1.5 carat Emerald cut diamond goes from 8.20 by 5.65mm to 8.40 by 5.85 mm.
What cut of emerald is the best? ›
Emeralds are cut in many popular shapes, with the round cut emerald and octagon "emerald" cut shape being most popular. Round emeralds can also improve the refractive quality of the emerald, giving it more sparkle. However, more than other gemstones, color reigns supreme.
Do emerald cuts face up small? ›
With emerald shaped diamonds, most people will consider a higher carat weight when possible because they are typically a bottom heavy shape. This means they face up smaller than other diamond shapes with similar carat weight.
