Diamonds have always been motifs of eternal love, power, good health and prosperity. Diamonds exhibit unparalleled brilliance, incredible sparkle and mesmerizing beauty. These are the reasons why diamonds were favored by people from ancient civilizations as well as by those belonging to the contemporary world.
Initially, the diamonds, just like any other precious gemstone, were the first choice of emperors and noblemen. It was not until the middle of the 19th century that the living standards of the people rose and the mining of diamonds started at a wider scale that the craze for diamonds became widespread.
Today, diamonds are undoubtedly one of the most popular and demanded precious gemstones among jewelry enthusiasts. Diamonds are sought after by most modern brides as the centerstone of their engagement rings, all thanks to the gemstone’s increased availability and affordability with the production of synthetic diamonds. Let’s get to know more about Aries birthstone and Taurus birthstone.
Popular Diamond Cuts
Diamonds, like any other gemstone, are mined in the form of rough stones of carbon. The gem-quality diamonds are obtained by polishing and shaping the rough diamonds into different proportions to create the final product we all have eyes for. Diamonds are cut in a variety of shapes, some of the most popular of which are round brilliant, oval shape, cushion-cut, marquise-cut, princess-cut, emerald-cut, etc. In this article, we have discussed one of the most popular diamond shapes, i.e., emerald-cut.
What is an Emerald Cut Diamond?
While most of the traditional diamond engagement rings feature a round brilliant cut diamond, emerald-cut diamond engagement rings have been gaining momentum recently, all thanks to the hype from celebs such as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. If you are wondering how emerald cut got its name then the credit goes to the soft emeralds that were first to be cut into step facets to avoid breaking the stones. Today, almost all the gemstones are shaped in emerald-cut and so is the diamond.
Talking about what an emerald cut looks like, it is a step-cut diamond with over 49 facets or more that are cut in elongated rectangular shapes. The facets are arranged in straight lines parallel to each other with cropped corners to prevent chipping of the stone. This creates a wonderful “hall of mirrors effect” and gives the stone a larger appearance.
What to Look For in an Emerald-cut Diamond Ring?
Purchasing a diamond ring requires an individual to focus on several factors such as the 4C’s of diamond grading one of which is the diamond cut. Talking about the emerald cut especially, you must consider several other factors, some of which have been discussed below.
Visibility of Inclusions
If you are buying an emerald-cut diamond then be aware of the inclusions visible from the step-cut structure of the diamond. This is because the top surface of an emerald-cut stone gives a clear view of the center of the stone making the inclusions easily visible. So while going for an emerald-cut stone, make sure you invest in a higher-quality diamond that offers more clarity. It’s because one with a lower clarity has a much higher possibility of revealing flaws in comparison to cushion-cut or round-cut diamonds.
Compromised Sparkle
Someone hunting for a brilliant diamond as the centerstone of their engagement ring might be disappointed with an emerald-cut diamond. Even though it has over 49 facets, the stone cut lacks the scintillating sparkle because of the step-cut faceting. Step-cuts are generally not as bright and fiery as the brilliant-cut stones. This is because step cuts never aim at increasing the brilliance of the stone, so you will notice little to no scattering of light in such cuts which could otherwise hide the flaws.
Shape & Color
The shape of an emerald-cut diamond is determined by the length-to-width ratio of the diamond. An ideal emerald-cut diamond may have a ratio between 1.30 and 1.60 depending on its wider or longer side. Based on this, you will find some emerald cuts thin but long whereas others are wide but short. As we know, an emerald cut does not give off extreme brilliance which otherwise hides the inferior color of the gemstone, a tinge of yellow in a white diamond in an emerald cut can be easily detected.
Conclusion
The points mentioned in the above sections make it even clearer why one should always look for the highest-quality diamond with better color and clarity when investing in an emerald-cut engagement diamond. Another important reminder is that before investing in any diamond, you must ask for a GIA report from your jeweler.
It’s always a good practice to look for the authenticity of your jewelry before purchasing if you don’t want to end up buying something which is fake, at the price of a genuine gemstone. If you are looking for exquisite diamond bling, then the best option is to get your hands on the range of exclusive natural and lab-grown diamond engagement rings from GemsNY. If you are wondering why, then we assure you that we deal in 100% certified and conflict-free diamonds with a 360-degree view of the jewelry you will be wearing.
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