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HEART SHAPE DIAMOND

Nothing says ‘I love you’ quite like a heart shaped diamond. The Heart cut is a rare and unique one, yet the meaning behind it is crystal clear. Not only will the unusual shape impress your partner, but also this diamond cut dazzles thanks to boasting a considerable amount of fire.

AN INTRODUCTION

This is the perfect diamond shape if you are looking for something romantic. The Heart cut is the most distinctive out of all diamond shapes and good symmetry is essential if this cut is to look as beautiful as it should. When buying this diamond, one of the factors you need to look out for is the quality of the curve, as this impacts the sparkle.

FEATURES

Heart shaped diamonds can differ a bit in their appearance depending on their structure and how they have been made; yet everyone agrees that they require good symmetry. They tend to have a length to width ration between 0.90 and 1.10, and they usually contain between 56 and 58 facets. The number of main pavilion facets can be anything from six to eight.

This is another diamond shape that is susceptible to the bow tie effect, which means a shadow can be cast on the central facets when light passes through. This can be reduced by adjusting the angles of the facets and the table so the light is diffused better. Another option is to alter the depth of the pavilion. In some cases, the large bezel facet at the point is replaced with ‘French tips’, i.e. a star and upper girdle facets.

BUYING ADVICE

There are lots of factors you need to take into account when buying a Heart shaped diamond ring. One of the most important things to consider is the diamond’s overall finish and the quality of the curve. These attributes are vital because they play a role in diamond’s overall sparkle.

Another way to achieve more fire and brilliance is to opt for a smaller cut, i.e. two carats or less. You are advised to go for a high grading when buying this diamond, as lower quality Heart cuts can suffer from the bow tie effect, and colour tints and flaws can be magnified. Finally, the three-prong setting and bezel setting are both ideal for this shape.

HISTORY

Reference to Heart shaped diamonds can be traced back to the 16th century. However, what they called a Heart cut is significantly different to the ones that we see today; they were more of a drop shape. The Heart diamond as we know it probably didn’t appear until around the 1900’s, although there was reference to a Heart shaped diamond in a book written by a French merchant traveller, Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, in 1655.

He claimed to have seen one on his travels while in India. Nevertheless, laser cutting tools and computer models were needed before this stunning shape could be created.

WHERE NEXT?

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Book a visit to our London Mayfair showroom or search through our diamonds inventory online.

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