The princess cut diamond is the most popular fancy cut when it comes to engagement rings. Just like round cut diamond, princess cuts diamonds are also known for their flexibility which works in almost any styles of ring. The princess cut diamond was create in 1980 by Israel Itzkowitz and Betzalel Ambar. The shape was inspired by the early “French” cut diamond because it also has a series of chevron facets in the diamond’s sides that creates a distinct cross pattern when it is viewed from the top. In this article, we are going to know more about the princess cut diamond and we will give you some tips on buying this kind of diamond.
Characteristics
As we mentioned earlier, the princess cut diamond has a series of unique chevron-shape pavilion facets and it is paired with table facets cut that looks like a round brilliant cut. And this diamond shape naturally has 58 facets. It also has a unique pyramid shape that creates a greater light dispersion compared to other square-shaped diamonds. The princess cut is the only mixed brilliant-cut that allows up to 80 percent of retention of the rough. When it is viewed from the top, the princess cut diamond appears to be square and sometimes slightly rectangular. Most designs of this cut have the sharp French corners but some has rounded corners. When you look at this diamond shape from the side, you will see that it looks like an inverted pyramid. Most of the time, the princess cut diamond has a four-prong setting which holds the diamond at each corner and those corners typically appear beveled. The four corners are protected with prongs because it is the most likely location for chipping. Of all the square-cut diamonds, the princess cut is the one that is closest to achieving the fire and brilliance of a round diamond that’s why it is the perfect choice if you are looking for a diamond cut that has a unique shape and sparkling appearance with a relative price value.
How Much Does it Cost?
A carat of a princess cut diamond cost from 1,000 dollars to 8,000 dollars depending on its clarity grades, color, and cut. The princess cut diamonds are considered less expensive than round diamonds. It is guaranteed that you will get more shine for your money with a princess cut diamond because diamond artisans can use up to eighty percent of the diamond rough when creating a princess shaped diamond. Because when it comes to a round shaped diamond, artisans only use about fifty percent of the diamond rough. That’s why princess cut diamonds are more cost-effective to create and you will get to save money, too.
What to Look For When Buying a Princess Cut Diamond
Of course, the first thing that you should consider when buying a diamond is your taste. But we are going to give you some few guidelines to help you decide and make a wise decision to find and own a princess cut diamond with great quality.
- Any princess cut diamond that has a length-to-width ratio of 1.05 or less will look like a square-shaped diamond to the unaided eye.
- You should look for a princess cut diamond shape that has a total depth of 65 to 75 percent for you to be able to get the best of brilliance to size.
- It is best to stay under 75 percent for Table Percentage.
4C’s For Princess Cut Diamonds
Color Grade – When buying a princess cut diamond, you shouldn’t go with a color grade lower than I-color grade or else you will notice some yellow color. You should aim for a princess diamond cut with a higher color grade such as D, E, and F color grade.
Carat Weight – The weight of the princess cut diamond varies quite a bit from carat to carat that’s why you should focus on looking for a diamond that has the right length and width ratio within the carat weight range that you like.
Clarity Grade – Even if princess cut diamonds are known for being great at hiding inclusions, they can be prone to chipping and breaking if there’s an inclusion in one of the four corners. That’s why you have to be keen on checking the inclusion report so you can make sure that the princess cut diamond has no inclusions on the corners. When it comes to the grading, we suggest that you should opt for S11 or VS2 clarity diamonds which are confirmed to have no visible inclusions to the unaided eye.
Cut Grade – The cut grade is the most crucial of all the 4Cs because it determines the diamond’s sparkle. However, unlike round cut diamonds, the princess cut diamond has no industry-wide consensus that defines its cut grades. That’s why we strongly suggest that you should see a princess cut diamond in person before you buy it just to make sure that the sparkle is right for you. Princess cut diamonds that have an ideal cut grade are very hard to find and considered to be the holy grail of sparkle. That’s why if you find the right one with the right sparkle and fits your budget, then you should consider yourself lucky.