Diamonds are a girl's best friend, right? From our dream engagement ring to statement necklaces and bracelets, our jewellery collection is incomplete without gorgeous diamonds to light it up. While we love the sparkly stones with all their brilliance, there's in fact many nuances involved in crafting diamonds and making them shine brilliantly. Before picking your diamond jewellery, you need to know the basics of diamonds to make a better choice, which are often categorised as 4Cs - Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat.
The cut of the diamond is not the same as the shape. Cut refers to the symmetry, facets, polish and various other factors that are taken into consideration while shaping a diamond to ensure its brightness and sparkle. Saurabh A Khandelwal, Owner of Dhanvi Diamonds says, "Diamonds are cut in many shapes, but only some of them can retain the brilliance and glitter. There's a whole science behind diamond cutting - the angles of cuts are carefully measured and it takes a very experienced eye to cut a diamond."
"Most prominent cuts are from the point of reflection (high to low in ascending order). The most seeked after is the round cut. As round cut retains maximum brilliance and glitter, it has the highest number of facets than any other shapes. As such it is a favourite when it comes to engagement rings. Round cut is followed by the princess cut, heart cut and then cushion cut. But sometimes the best cut depends on one's personal preference."
(Also read: Buying A Diamond? 4 Tips From An Expert)
Most prominent cuts are from the point of reflection
The Most Popular Cuts Of Diamonds
Bhuvan Goel, Owner of S.Ka Diamonds says, "available in varied shapes and designs, diamond rings offer a plethora of options for women to choose from. Here's a look at the most popular cuts, loved by women, when it comes to diamond rings."
1. Round Brilliant Cut
Called as timeless, classy and traditional, this suits women of all age groups and is celebrated for its brilliance in looks and beauty.
2. Princess Cut
Stylish and delicate, the square cut princess diamond is perfect for the trendy girl. It has intense sparkle and looks good in just about every setting.
(Also read: 8 Tips To Keep Your Diamonds Sparkling Like New)
Princess Cut
3. Cushion Cut
This one is soft and classic in look and features softly rounded corners. It comes in different shapes and sizes too that are loved by women of all age groups.
4. Oval Cut
Modern, bold, slenderising, oval diamonds are great for those who like to stand out. They appear larger than round diamonds while making a woman's finger look longer and more slender.
5. Emerald Cut
Celebrated by art enthusiasts and glamorous divas, the emerald cut diamond exudes old-world glamour and is appreciated for its lustre and class.
6. Asscher Cut
This cut is considered modern vintage, dramatic and elegant and is best suited for women who love vintage feel in her ornaments.
7. Radiant Cut
Often considered as unique and complex, this cut is an ideal choice for women who prefer a square-shaped diamond.
8. Marquise Cut
Style experts call it showy, unique, and elongating, and it looks perfect on short fingers. It is also called football-shaped marquise cut diamond.
9. Pear Shape
Also called teardrop diamond cut, it looks delicate and elegant and is actually a cross between the round and marquise style. It looks beautiful in a halo setting.
Pear Cut
10. Heart Shape
Romantic, sweet and loving, this one is preferred by love birds. It uses a heart-shaped piece in a solitaire setting, which makes it classy.
Setting Of Diamonds
One more thing that makes the difference when buying an engagement ring is the setting style of diamond. Because the way diamond is mounted on a ring also affects the brilliance of a diamond. Prong high mounted setting is most suited and preferred, while bezel setting is least preferred.
Saurabh A Khandelwal says, "Even choosing the right ring or band can enhance your diamond. It can make it look bigger or smaller. Choosing a thin band is an easy way to emphasise on the diamond and make it look bigger. A diamond, no matter what size, when seen against a smaller metal band, will immediately look bigger. You can choose to place a cluster of small diamonds around the bigger diamond to again make the diamond look bigger."
So what's your favourite cut of diamond?
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