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Trillion Cut Diamond: Everything You Need To Know

Trilliant or trillion-cut diamonds are one of those diamonds that you can’t get your eyes off of, as you’re probably aware. You might’ve seen one without knowing its name, but if you saw it – you remembered it, that’s for sure.

The sheer impact that these diamonds have on people that see them is a big reason why we’ve decided to tell you all about these diamonds – right here and right now.

The size, shape, and cut of a trillion cut diamond isn’t something that’s “ordinary,” or that can be seen every day. So, follow carefully!

There are also a few things you need to know about this cut of the diamond before you buy one – and when it comes to diamonds, buyers’ advice is always welcome.

Let’s be clear: This diamond isn’t for everyone – and that’s the main reason for putting together this guide. Now that you know what to expect and look forward to, we recommend jumping straight into it – and learning all about the magnificent trillion cut diamond.

The History Of The Trillion Cut Diamond

There is a group of diamonds that are cut in a similar fashion and share a rich history amongst each other. As you can guess, the trillion cut diamonds are one of those diamonds – and that’s exactly what makes it so majestic.

When there is a story behind an item – especially when that item is a diamond – it ceases to be just an ordinary thing and becomes the representation of that whole story and lore.

Diamonds have been worn as a reminder of class and wealth for centuries now, which means that some of the most popular cuts are quite an old occurrence.

Why are we telling you this? Well, one of the oldest cuts known to man is a direct ancestor to the trillion cut. Variations of this triangular-shaped cut have appeared over some decades, with different names such as “trillion,” “Trielle,” or “trilliant” being used.

This modern version of the trilliant that we all know and adore today was first created by a New York-based diamond merchant named Leon Finker in the early 1960s. His son, named Marvin Finker, later patented the design in the early 1970s. 

And that same design is now known as the “Trielle.”

Some other diamond merchants – such as the Henry Meyer Diamond Company – also created their version of this three-sided stone around the same time but without any apparent luck. 

The Finker family is still considered to be the first creator of trillion cut diamonds. Today, both terms trillion and trilliant are used interchangeably to describe a triangular-shaped diamond. Some people say that there is a long list of inspirations for this diamond cut – and we agree to some extent.

Briolette cut that dates back to the 1400s and the Old Mine cut that dates back to the 1700s are some of the strongest influences on the trillion cut diamonds. Modern round brilliant cut – that is known to exist since 1919 – is also a significant influence on the trillion cut.

All those years and centuries of diamond-cutting advances that have passed have poured into the trillion cut, making it the best possible version to come from these older cuts.

What Is A Trillion-Cut Diamond?

Now, we know that a lot of you aren’t actually interested in the history of diamonds. So, now that we have that aspect out of the way, let’s have a look at what the trillion cut actually is and how to recognize it.

This diamond has a pretty distinct look that makes it hard to miss, meaning you probably won’t have any problems with that. A trillion-cut diamond is a triangle-shaped diamond that is rarely found as a centerpiece of any piece of jewelry. Instead, it’s mainly used as an accent diamond.

What this means is that you will rarely find, let’s say, a ring that has a trillion cut diamond as the central diamond on that ring.

Why? Well, in essence, that’s because of the specific shape of these trillion cut diamonds that make it better and accentuate bigger and more round diamonds.

That doesn’t mean that these diamonds aren’t good enough to be the centerpiece, though. That simply is not true. It just means that due to their specific physical characteristics, they are most often found as the complimenting diamond for the main piece embedded in said jewelry.

Diamonds that have a role such as this one are generally neglected by rookies in the diamond game. But when someone is even half-experienced with diamonds, they are able to notice the stunning trillion cut diamond right away.

Now, there are some pieces of jewelry that feature the trillion cut diamond as their centerpiece – but you’ll run into those cases much less often than you think. These gems are generally much happier playing the “supporting” role.

That said, there are specific settings in which the trillion-cut diamond can be the centerpiece diamond in a piece of jewelry. Usually, those pieces of jewelry are rings or earrings that can be quite delicate and subtle, not having much more going on other than the diamond.

That means no side piece diamonds and no elaborate pave settings – or anything of the sort. Trillion-cut diamonds find themselves as centerpieces on a very niche market for people that are searching for something specific – a design that can’t be seen in your everyday jewelry.

Clarity Of The Trillion Cut Diamond

Some people may suggest that just because trillion-cut gems are often used as complementary side stones, you should not care about their clarity – but that isn’t exactly true.

Yes, it is true is that many other side stones are not of the best clarity since they aren’t looked at as often as the centerpieces. However, that rule doesn’t include all diamonds that might be used as side stones.

Trillion-cut diamonds are one of those exceptions that require extra attention when it comes to clarity. Why? The manner in which they’re cut leaves room for noticing any imperfections and inconsistencies when it comes to clarity.

But, when discussing the clarity of diamonds in general, we have to be quite specific since there are precise measurements for this.

Let’s take GIA’s clarity chart as an example and see what’s acceptable (and what’s not) when it comes to trillion cut diamonds:

  • Flawless (FL) – No inclusions and no blemishes visible under 10x magnification
  • Internally Flawless (IF) – No inclusions visible under 10x magnification
  • Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1 and VVS2)Inclusions so slight they are difficult for a skilled grader to see under 10x magnification
  • Very Slightly Included (VS1 and VS2) – Inclusions are observed with effort under 10x magnification but can be characterized as minor
  • Slightly Included (SI1 and SI2) – Inclusions are noticeable under 10x magnification
  • Included (I1, I2, and I3) – Inclusions are noticeable under 10x magnification, which may affect transparency and brilliance

As you can see, there’s quite a lot to take in when it comes to diamond clarity, but don’t worry – we won’t leave you without an explanation!

FL is the best score any diamond can get when talking about clarity. So, if you find a trillion-cut diamond with that clarity grade, just know that it doesn’t get better than that.

Included, or I1, I2, and I3, are the grades reserved for diamonds with the worst clarity, so if your trillion cut diamond is graded with one of these grades – just know that you can do better.

Of course, this affects the price, as well, bringing it down if the grade is lower and raising it if the quality is higher – which is especially the case with IF and FL clarity grades.

Try going for a trillion-cut diamond that has a clarity grade of VS1 or VS2 (or higher) for optimal appearance, clarity, and light performance.

Best Size For Trillion Cut Diamond

Now, taking into consideration that these diamonds are side stones and not the main piece in the jewelry, you won’t be looking at big multi-carat trillion cut diamonds. Instead, you’ll look for smaller pieces that will complement the centerpiece quite nicely.

But, there’s another side of this coin – and that’s the side that tells us about the size of a trillion cut diamond as a centerpiece if that’s the route you choose to take, of course.

So, let’s look at both sides – and see what size trillion cut diamonds you should be aiming for in both situations. First, let’s talk about trillion cut diamonds as side stones and how big they should be – and then we can discuss these gems as the center stones in some jewelry pieces.

So, if we’re talking about a ring with a centerpiece diamond that a 1-carat diamond, you should aim to have two 0.25-carat trillion-cut diamonds to accompany the main one.

That means that they have a combined weight of half of the centerpiece diamond – which is a nice enough balance, ensuring your ring or other pieces of jewelry don’t seem overcrowded or overloaded with diamonds.

Secondly, when a trillion cut diamond is the centerpiece of a piece of jewelry, you should aim for a bit larger stone. That means a 0.25-carat trillion cut gem won’t cut it if it’s the centerpiece. 

Now, remember what we said – these stones are found in rings and earrings. So, you won’t have an opportunity to go for larger stones, anyway.

A 1-carat trillion cut diamond is the maximum weight you should aim for since everything above that point may look too big and can sit awkwardly on your fingers or ears.

But on the flip side, something smaller might not appear as impactful as a 1-carat stone, so be careful not to pick something too small.

A 0.75-carat trillion cut diamond may work as well for earrings since these are separate pieces and will be worn separately, one on each ear. That, in turn, will make them stand out even more since they’re worn in pairs.

Price & Value

The price tags that you can find on these diamonds are something that may surprise you. It’s not as high as some of you would think – but it’s not as low as you’d expect from a side stone.

For a trillion cut diamond that weighs around 0.40 carats, you should expect to spend $700, on average, which is not terrible – unless you realize that you’ll probably need two to go in pair.

These prices aren’t something that should be taken lightly, though. You see, you should add the price of the centerpiece stone and the actual ring to it, as well.

When they’re used as side stones, these diamonds are relatively expensive – and you do have some much cheaper alternatives out there on the market.

So, is the price of these diamonds too high, or too low? Well, we’d say it’s in the middle with tendencies to go towards a pricier side of the spectrum. 

$700 is a hefty amount to spend for a side diamond – but it should be worth every penny. Taking that into consideration, you should probably consider some other options, as well.

There are quite a few options to choose from when we’re talking about side diamonds. If you’re looking to get the most attractive one, though, the only thing you should focus on here is getting a decent trillion cut diamond at a good price.

Trillion-Cut Diamond: Conclusion 

When it comes to precious stones that are as rare and as unique as the trillion cut diamond, you should, indeed, keep quite a few things in mind when making your choice.

Besides rich history, this diamond cut also has to offer countless combinations, whether it’s used as the main piece or the side stone in a setting.

Don’t be discouraged by the fact that this cut is mainly used for side stones, though. And to tell you the truth, there aren’t a lot of stones that can be considered as good of a side stone as the trillion-cut diamond.

This diamond really has it all – from its rich history and origins to unique looks and decent prices. In other words, if you’re looking for perfection – take a look at trillion cut diamonds!

Learn More: Diamond Shapes: All Different Types of Diamond Shapes