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Shield Cut Diamond: Proud Member of Step Cut Family

Shield Cut Diamond: Proud Member of Step Cut Family

Purchasing a diamond can be a daunting task, especially with so many options available on the market. So while searching for your perfect stone, chances are you’ve stumbled across step-cut diamonds. 

One member of the step-cut diamond family is the shield cut diamond. This unique and gorgeous diamond shape is commonly used for side stones on the ring. Being the part of the step cut family, the shield cut comes with its set of pros and cons.

In this article, we’ve covered everything you need to know about the shield cut diamond. In addition, we included some popular choices for ring settings that go well with the shield-cut diamonds and some other diamond shapes of the step-cut family. So without further ado, let’s dive in!

What Is A Shield Cut Diamond?

Shield cut diamonds are triangular in shape, with two bowed edges and a bowed top side. The general appearance of this diamond cut is reminiscent of a warrior shield from the past.

These diamonds are commonly utilized as side stones in diamond engagement rings, with the wide end next to the centerpiece and the pointed end running down the shank. Shield cut diamonds can also be used for pendants and earrings due to their unique shape.

Related Read: How Do You Pick A Diamond Pendant? – An Extensive Guide

Shield Cut Diamon’s Characteristics 

The shield cut diamonds are an interesting and one-of-a-kind addition to the world of diamond cutters. While being unique, the shield cut diamond has few close relatives because it belongs to the step cut family of diamonds – this diamond cut is most similar to the Triangular cut.

However, the shield cut diamond has several unique characteristics like a bent top and tapered edges oriented inwards. The shield-shaped diamond is a rising star in the realm of side stones, thanks to its gorgeous aesthetics and its interesting symbolism. After all, the shield shape represents protection – an appropriate emotion of a pair.

What To Look For When Purchasing Shield Cut Diamond?

It shouldn’t be hard to locate a shield-cut diamond. Finding one that’s well-proportioned and precisely cut is a challenging part of the task, which is why working with experienced direct importers and producers is highly advised.

Perhaps the most important piece of shield cut diamond purchasing advice is to pay extra attention to the center of the stone. It can easily backfire by making certain imperfections more noticeable due to the fact it’s wider than most diamond cuts. For example, this can be prevented by focusing more on the stone’s clarity. 

Pros of shield cut diamond

  • Appears bigger than many other diamond cuts
  • Incredible fire
  • Less expensive than other cuts

Cons of shield cut diamond

  • More prone to chipping
  • Limited brilliance due to the lack of depth
  • Not many configuration options

Should You Purchase A Shield Cut Diamond?

If you’re looking for a unique design for the side stones of your ring, then the shield cut diamond is definitely a great option. With the wide ends fitting right next to the centerpiece and the pointed ends running down the ring’s shank, these diamonds look absolutely gorgeous.

However, shield-cut diamonds can also be used as a center stone on a diamond ring and can still look stunning. Shield cut diamonds are perfect for pendants and dangle earrings because they feature unusual and unique shapes.

Where Should You Buy A Shield Cut Diamond?

When searching for a shield-cut diamond, it’s crucial to look at several examples. This will help you decide whether you want shield-cut diamonds as a side stone or a centerpiece on your ring.

You can shop at your local jeweler’s store or online for shield-cut diamonds. However, you need to make sure you’re purchasing from reputable and trustworthy sellers.

Different Shield Cut Diamond Ring Settings

Shield cut diamonds can look better in some ring settings than in others – let’s take a look:

Pave Setting

Pave setting is used to create a cobblestone impression with smaller diamonds. Pave settings produce an all-over light by putting stones low and close together with smaller metal beads or prongs that are scarcely noticeable behind the canopy of gleam.

White gold is one of the popular chives for pave ring settings because it’s said to mix in better with the diamond compared to rose or yellow gold, allowing them to shine and sparkle with less metal visible.

Related Read: How To Prevent Pave Diamonds From Falling Out?

Channel Setting

In the channel ring setting, stones are set between two metal walls creating a flat profile for increased protection. There’s no metal between the stones which enables the most amount of light to enter them, thus producing more shine and brilliance.

In most cases, channel ring settings have metal that slightly overlaps the stone’s edges, which protects the stone from inadvertent impacts. This incredible snag-free design is very unlikely to catch on hair or garments because of the lack of prongs or claws in the setting configuration.

Channel ring settings are a popular choice for wedding bands and similarly fashioned stackable rings which can be worn together because of their flat profile.

Bezel Setting

A metal fringe that spans the whole diameter of a stone to lock it in place, known as a bezel setting, is another great option for your shield cut diamond. 

Bezel ring settings are one of the safest choices because they are well shielded from unexpected bumps and knocks, making them excellent for people with active lifestyles. Due to its flat profile, the ring is less prone to snag.

However, since the diamond’s base is hidden behind the metal prongs, less light can enter the stone resulting in lower brilliance.

Famous Shield Cut Diamonds

In today’s market, there’s a wide range of diamond cuts to choose from. Shield cud diamonds, however, are worth a try if you want something unique and different compared to typical diamond shapes. In addition, interestingly enough, there are many world-famous diamonds that are shield-shaped.

Shield cut diamonds can be found in some of the most iconic jewels: The Guinea Star – 89-carat Internally Flawless modified shield cut diamond and The Moussaieff Red – 5.11-carat red-colored diamond.

The Moussaieff Red – The Red Shield Diamond

The Moussaieff Red, most commonly known as The Red Shield, just like every superhero, has a backstory that describes how their superpowers came to be. 

The very rare and vividly colored rough, discovered deep in the Brazilian jungles, measured about 14 carats. For it to show its true strength, brilliance, and beauty, it required William Goldberg’s vision and perseverance. 

What William Goldberg brought back to the USA was a deep red diamond which is so rare that only a few are known to exist. The Red Shield has been on the Smithsonian exhibit twice over the years, dazzling visitors with its unique shape, unequaled color, and unrivaled beauty – It’s a shield-cut diamond with superpowers.  

Other Step Cut Diamonds

When people ask “what is a step-cut diamond,” they generally tend to think that they’re asking about a singular kind of cut, such as a round brilliant cut. However, that’s where they’re wrong. 

A step cut isn’t just a type of cut, but it’s a family of diamond cuts such as emerald cut, baguette cut, and several others. For many years, the step cut diamonds died down in popularity; however, in recent years, we’ve seen the popularity of step cut diamonds rising.

The reason behind the name of the step-cut diamonds comes from the actual appearance of these stones. You see, these diamonds have large facets that run parallel to the stone that looks similar to steps or stairs.

Now let’s take a look at some other step cut diamonds other than the shield cut diamond and see what makes them unique.

Emerald-Cut Diamond

The most popular diamond cut from the step-cut diamond family is the emerald cut. This diamond shape isn’t just the well-known step cut, but also it’s one of the most famous diamond shapes all in all. This kind of diamond cut is known for featuring a long rectangular shape with truncated corners. In addition, it’s named the emerald cut since it was first used as a primary shape for emerald gemstones.

Baguette-Cut Diamond

Even though baguette cuts aren’t as nearly as famous as emerald cut diamonds, you can still see them used fairly often as a cut for side stones. This diamond cut isn’t as popular because it has fewer facets, which results in a thinner appearance.

And due to this fact, most people prefer step-cut diamonds such as emerald-cut diamonds because it has a bigger appearance. However, if you want to include side stones in your ring, baguette-cut diamonds are always a fantastic option.

Ascher Cut Diamond

The Asscher cut is relatively similar to the other step cuts. However, what makes this cut unique is the square shape and cropped corners that reflect light which sometimes gives the appearance of an “X” in the diamond’s center. Due to this unique appearance, many people love Asscher cut diamonds, whereas others don’t so much.

Triangle Cut Diamond

As the name implies, the triangle cut diamond is triangular in shape, and just like the baguette cut, this diamond shape is more popular as a side stone in rings. Nevertheless, triangle cut diamonds can still be used as center stones.

Trapeze Cut Diamond

Another member of the step-cut family is the trapeze cut, also known as the trapezoid cut. This diamond shape is four-sided and is generally used as a side stone.

Carre Cut Diamond

Among all step-cut diamonds, the Carre cut is the least common one. When this diamond shape is viewed from the top, it resembles a pyramid with its square facets and longer sides running along the length of the stone.

How To Select The Perfect Step Cut Diamond

If you have decided on a step-cut gemstone for your ring, then there are several things you should consider when trying to select the perfect stone.

Clarity

When choosing the perfect step-cut diamond for you, one of the most important factors is the clarity of the stone. The reason for this is because of the flat surfaces of the diamond’s facets. They make it relatively easy to spot diamond inclusions. Therefore, if you want a gem that looks eye-clean, you would want one with a clarity grade of VS1 or above.

Cut Grading

The next factor you should take into consideration is the cut grading of your diamond. This is because you want your stone to sparkle and shine, and the quality of the cut is what enables that. So when looking at the cut grading, Excellent or Very Good cut grade will have your gem sparkling in the light.

Color

The last thing you need to take into consideration when selecting a step-cut diamond is its color. Just like the clarity, you will want to ensure that the color of your stone is great due to the step-cut diamonds showing more imperfections. If you’re looking to buy a step-cut diamond, but you’re unsure if the stone is good, be sure to talk to a professional as they will be able to help you the best.

Related Read: Diamond Color Vs. Clarity: What’s More Important?

Bottom Line

The shield cut diamond is an interesting and one-of-a-kind addition to the world of diamond cutting and a proud member of the step cut diamond family. 

While the shield cut diamond is similar to a triangular cut, it has several unique characteristics such as tapered edges and a bent top. The shield cut is definitely a rising star when it comes to side stones. Thanks to its gorgeous aesthetics, this diamond shape makes the perfect side stone for your ring.

Ultimately, the shape of the shield represents protection – an emotion that is appropriate for a loving pair.