EMERALD CUT DIAMOND

Summary:

The Emerald cut diamond has a classic and vintage feel to it. Unlike most other cuts that aim to bring out the fire and shine in a diamond, the emerald cut focuses on the gem’s clarity. Always have a diamond expert with you when buying to ensure that you make the right choice.

Sure to be a Face Turner

People say that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, right? Well, in the case of the emerald cut diamond, it seems that everyone finds the gem to be one of the most stunningly beautiful diamond shapes. The emerald cut is said to be born out of the original cutting styles of all the other diamonds cuts.

There is a unique type of beauty that comes from a diamond that can enhance color. Among all the other diamond cuts, it is the emerald cut diamond wins the trophy here. The cut can also exist in different types of gemstones.

The Breath-Taker

Diamond experts state that the emerald cut diamond can be classified as one of the most sophisticated yet dramatic cuts in the diamond world. The cut presents the diamond with long, crisp lines that could generally elongate a person’s finger, creating an inspiring and enhanced look.

Surprisingly the emerald cut diamonds make up only about three percent of the earth’s diamonds, which makes these gems quite rare and unique. There is no doubt to the fact that the emerald cut diamond is also capable of making a very classic as well as a vintage statement.

The elegance of the emerald cut diamonds dates back to the 1400s. The gem comes from the first genuine diamond, the table cut. With the significant advance in technology over the years, that resulted in even more advanced cutting techniques; the diamond cutters created the culet facet at the bottom of the stones.

Worth the Bucks

Over time, diamond cutters have realized that the facets tend to reflect light through the diamond which subsequently increases the diamond’s brightness. In that respect, and after such a fantastic discovery, the diamond cutters were now adding more facets to the table cut. And the decision saw the creation of the step cut.

Now, as the gemstones started being cut into the step cut shape, the diamond cutters also realized that by reducing the step cut corners, there was a higher probability of increasing the gemstone’s durability. This ensured that the odds for chipping were significantly decreased.

The cutting of the step cut corners was thus vital for the slightly soft emerald gemstone, which is where the emerald cut diamonds gets its name. After that, the step cut became standardized into the emerald cut in the early 1940s since the shape was popularly used for the emerald gemstone.

It is the concentric rows of the step-cut facets which are generally responsible for making up the pavilion of the emerald cut diamond. The concentric rows are the reason the emerald cut diamond so different from other diamond cuts such as the Asscher cut or the radiant cut diamonds. The latter two diamonds usually offer the same silhouettes, but the faceting for the two of them are entirely different.

The addition of the step-cut facets tends to drastically adorn the crown that exists on the emerald cut diamond, framing a big table and creating an effect that is quite similar to the one found on a hall of mirrors or a reflecting pool.

The popularity of the Emerald Cut Diamond

The emerald cut diamond has gained its reputation over the years, and the reason is that many of the buyers will usually look beyond the simple yet classic round shaped diamonds. The emerald cut diamond remains to be a distinct and rare choice, and anyone that wears the gem is guaranteed to stand out from the crowd. Some celebrities that turn heads with the emerald cut diamond include Beyonce, Angelina Jolie, and Amal Clooney, to mention a few.

Least Brilliant but Most Precious

Since the emerald cut diamond generally contains the least number of facets, the gem typically displays less brilliance when compared to all the other popular diamond shapes. The less brilliance is somewhat intentional as the emerald cut is designed to showcase the gem’s clarity rather than fire.

Such a cut works favorably for a diamond that has either few or no inclusions, as well as those that have a higher color. Viewing the emerald cut diamond from the top is quite breathtaking as the gem’s scintillation pattern creates a flashing “on and off” effect. This is quite different from the sparkle effect, which is displayed by most diamonds that carry smaller facets.

Pay the Most Attention

Because the emerald cut diamond works mostly to accentuate a gem’s clarity more than its fire, it is, therefore, crucial to note a few things. When it comes to the emerald diamond’s cut, it is safe to say that while some cuts found on the other popular diamonds can be quite forgiving, the case is quite different for the emerald cut diamond.

The emerald diamond cut will always show every flaw even with the naked eye primarily because the gem has large and open facets. So, it is essential to pay close attention to the two types of emerald-cut diamonds, the rectangular emerald cut, and the square emerald cut. Even though the rectangular shape is the most common, the square versions are also slowly coming to the market.

Emerald Diamond Cut Grade

When it comes to the emerald diamond’s cut grade, the experts refer to it as the quality of the gem’s symmetry as well as the proportions. Even though both the AGS and the Gemological Institute of America does not assign any cut grades to the emerald cut diamond, the two do assign both symmetry and polish grades.

A majority of the diamond retailers out there use the proportions, symmetry, and polish to approximate the specific emerald diamond’s cut grade. The retailers use the three factors since each one is a highly significant indicator of sparkle in the absence of the real cut grades.

To get the best sparkle out of an Emerald cut diamond, go for one that has both excellent symmetry grades and excellent polish. With that said, it is important to note that having a jeweler present while purchasing an emerald cut diamond is vital. It becomes even more helpful when the jeweler has a good understanding of the specs for a top-notch emerald cut diamond.

The Best Dimensions

It is important to note that in no case should an individual ever buy an emerald cut diamond with the certification as the sole basis. Finding an expert that one can trust in the decision making and help make a reliable visual inspection can save one a lot of money when purchasing the precious gem.

The emerald cut diamond has approximately 58 facets and three rows of steps that exist on both the diamond’s pavilion and crown. Even though the emerald cut diamond tends to be less fiery, the presence of the dramatic flashes of light, as well as long lines, give the gem an exquisite appeal.

The cuts in the Emerald cut diamond tend to vary from a thin rectangle to an almost square shape. The famous and classic piece of an emerald cut diamond usually has a length to width ratio of approximately 1:50. For an individual that prefers to own the square emerald cut diamond, one could also go for a diamond with fewer facets.

Thus, when it comes to deciding on the best length to width ratio, the best thing to do is to divide the emerald cut diamond’s diameter by its width. Note that depending on the width and length ratio, the diamond could either be a long and thin rectangle or an almost square shape.

A majority of gemologists out there state and recommend that the ideal ratio for the emerald cut diamond is between 1.45 to about 1.55. Even though some people prefer the longer and thinner cuts which lie around 1.60, most people also go for the shorter, square ones with a 1.30 ratio.

The chart below is an excellent guide for someone that wants to purchase the emerald cut diamond. The chart helps narrow down on the specific options an individual has while evaluating the precious gem.

The Best Cut Guide

Emerald Cut Diamond’s Color as Subjective

When it comes to the emerald cut diamond’s color, keep in mind that it is entirely subjective. There does not exist any color grade for the emerald cut diamond and even for the other diamond cuts.

While a majority of the diamond retailers, as well as grading labs, tend to place more value on the colorless emerald cut diamonds and asking for a higher premium, the case is different when it comes to personal choice.

The color grade that one decides to choose will always be based primarily on what that person finds most attractive.

The diamond retailers state that most buyers usually prefer to purchase the emerald cut diamonds that have a warmer color that lies at G-H over the much more relaxed and colorlessness of the D-F diamonds. In that respect, some geologists say that a majority of the premium price that can be associated with the emerald cut diamonds present at the higher end of the color scales tends to be guided and driven by both demand and supply.

Color is Everything

A lot of the emerald cut diamond customers usually go for the D-F color grades, and most are open to paying a premium to own the unique gems. The good news about the entire emerald cut diamond’s color ideology is that the smaller diamonds typically hide the gem’s color as compared to the larger ones. So, if one prefers to have less color on a diamond, the best color to go for is the D-F.

Below is a chart that acts as a guide for the evaluation of color. The chart is helpful to anyone that wants to decide on the specific color to go for when it comes to the Emerald cut diamond. One may prefer an emerald cut diamond with limited shade, a colorless diamond, or in other cases, a warmer diamond.

Color Guide for the Emerald Cut Diamond

Clarity is Key 

Since a majority of the modern-day emerald cut diamonds typically have three rows of steps as well as 58 facets on both the pavilion and the crown, the diamond’s table tends to be more significant. The large size has a higher probability of causing imperfections that people can easily spot.

Hence, during the purchase of the Emerald cut diamond, it is advisable for the buyer to be careful, especially when a diamond has a lower clarity since most of the inclusions will stand out the most. A deeper pavilion, as well as a large table, draws people’s eyes and light inward towards the emerald cut diamond’s core. 

Since the emerald cut diamonds have a very subjective evaluation, the Gemological Institute of America works to provide the best type of help when it comes to the clarity grades. However, it is still quite vital that the grading labs and the retailers understand what the emerald cut diamond customer wants. Most of the customers usually have a specific standard when it comes to clarity.

Diamond experts say that a majority of the emerald cut diamond lovers prefer to own and are somewhat okay with having a diamond that has inclusion as long it is not visible to the naked eye. Other customers prefer to own an emerald cut diamond with a more flawless appearance.

In that respect, it is also safe to note that the emerald cut diamonds do not at any point conceal instances or cases of imperfections, which occurs due to the gems having more extended, and open facets. That being said, note that clarity or the lack of inclusion is a crucial deal.

Diamond experts recommend that one goes for an eye-clean VVS1 clarity grade or higher. However, it is still absolutely crucial that a person going to purchase an emerald cut diamond should have an expert present for advice and guidance.

Clarity Emerald Cut Diamond Guide

The Emerald cut Diamond’s Carat Weight

When looking at the emerald cut diamond’s cost, it is advisable to understand that it can generally vary due to a number of reasons. However, the primary difference is from the carat weight. The best thing to do as a buyer is to focus more on getting a diamond that has the right polish, symmetry, and proportions within the specific carat weight range that one desires.

Moreover, the carat weight is also one main reason that a buyer will need to bring an expert during the purchasing of the emerald cut diamond.

The Best Diamond Setting

Retailers state that the simple yet exquisite halos are usually the most sort after for the emerald cut shaped type of diamonds. The emerald halo engagement ring tends to create a unique and breathtaking vintage look, especially when you consider the extra sparkle within the center of the diamond.

One thing that holds true is that the emerald cut diamond is one that represents sophistication and beauty, which results in heads turning and tongues-speaking. The emerald cut diamond is without question among the most exquisite gem cuts.

 Always keep in mind that it is crucial for buyers to have an expert present during the purchase to help make the best purchase decision. And the good news is that there are non-commissioned virtual gemologists that offer guidance free of charge.