EMERALD CUT DIAMONDS

Emerald Cut diamonds, not to be confused with the green gemstone itself, is a very unique diamond cut that is unlike any other. It draws its uniqueness from the fact that unlike other brilliant cut shapes such as rounds or ovals, the scintillation pattern of an Emerald Cut diamond is totally different, and it is actually a step cut.

This means that within an Emerald Cut diamond there are small rectangular facets arranged in a parallel setting which look like steps, a total contrast to the traditional star and kite shaped facets of other brilliant cuts.

Emerald Cut diamonds became very popular during the Art Deco era. Their enduring popularity even today sees them as the diamond of choice for those looking for a show stopping ring. Not only do they exhibit brilliance and sparkle, albeit in a slightly more muted fashion than some other cuts, but the elegant long body of these diamonds has the effect of making them look larger than diamonds of a similar carat in other cuts. Here we take a close look at the beauty of Emerald Cut diamonds.

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THE HISTORY OF EMERALD CUT DIAMONDS

The Emerald Cut was first developed as far back as the 1500s and its origin explains where this cut derives its name from. Stonecutters developed the shape within emerald stones as it proved to be able to reduce pressure during the process of cutting, so lessening the risk of any chips occurring in the Emeralds. Diamond cutters noticed this factor and from this the Emerald Cut in diamonds was created. However, it was not until the Roaring Twenties and the Art Deco period that Emerald Cut diamonds became popular within pieces of diamond jewelry. The style of this opulent era focussed upon symmetry and clean lines and the Emerald Cut perfectly reflects this design style.

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CHARACTERISTICS OF EMERALD CUT DIAMONDS

Emerald Cut diamonds belong to the ‘step cut’ family of diamond cuts. This term is derived from the positioning of the facets that when viewed from above look like steps, with three rows of steps above and three below the stone. The 57 facets of an Emerald Cut diamond are divided into 8 on the girdle, 25 on the top, and 24 at the bottom of the diamond. They also have blocked corners which add to their distinctive appearance.

Emerald Cut diamonds most commonly take on a rectangular shape due its ratio of 1.5 which means that they exhibit a larger than average table which enables viewers to see far into the diamond. Therefore, any inclusions or flaws or color inconsistencies within the diamonds will be clearly seen, meaning that high quality purity and color are essential within an Emerald Cut diamond.

Due to its step cut, Emerald Cut diamonds do not bend or tend to reflect as much light as Round Cut diamonds but creates the effect of a hall of mirrors. This not only leads to a loss in brilliance and scintillation, but also contributes to the inability of this cut to hide flaws.