Which Diamond Cut Holds Its Value?

Diamonds are undeniably valued, but determining their price may be difficult. Although most consumers are educated that the four C’s (carat, clarity, color, and cut) determine the value of a diamond, few are aware that additional factors can also impact the price of a diamond.

The shape of the diamond is one of these aspects – and it might have a major impact on the price of a piece of jewelry.

So, that’s why you should always consider how the gem’s cut and shape impact value before purchasing a diamond ring or selling any existing jewelry. Which diamond cut holds its value?

It’s time to find some interesting info about the pros and cons of different diamond cuts and shapes – and how they are rated on the market.

Let’s get to it!

A Diamond Cut Vs. Diamond Shape

Many individuals are unaware that a diamond’s cut and shape are two distinct features of the stone – both of which are taken into account when calculating a diamond’s price.

The shape of a diamond relates to its geometrical structure, such as round or square. On the other hand, the cut refers to the distinct facets that allow the gem to reflect light – resulting in brilliance and sparkle.

Even though a rough diamond must be cut in order to be shaped, the two qualities explained here have completely distinct connotations for determining a stone’s worth.

Why Is The Diamond Cut So Important?

The cut quality of the gem influences more than just how it shines. A diamond with a bad cut will not only seem dull, but its value will drop, too.

The quality of a diamond is determined by how skillfully it is cut, and it is classified into four categories: Fair, Good, Very Good, and Excellent.

A diamond may only be graded by the specialists who follow the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) rules since it’s the world’s most respected diamond grading laboratory.

Following the cut, the form of a diamond is considered when calculating its value, as well.

Different Diamond Shapes

After that brief introduction, let’s look at some common diamond cuts and shapes.

Round Shape

The most common diamond form is the round brilliant cut. About 75% of all diamonds sold globally are cut in this form.

Round diamonds are expensive – and the reason for this is that throughout the cutting and polishing process, a significant portion of the raw diamond is wasted. A standard round-cut diamond only requires roughly 40% of the original stone.

The popularity of the round-cut diamond is another aspect that influences its price.

Since this diamond shape appears in most engagement rings, most suppliers, distributors, and vendors charge extra to meet the increased demand. So, you should expect to spend more on a round-cut diamond than any other diamond shape.

Princess Cut

The princess cut is the second most common diamond shape after the round brilliant cut. It is formed like an inverted pyramid and has a square surface.

It gives equivalent sparkle to the round brilliant cut at a substantially lesser price range due to its unique form.

The reasonable cost of the princess cut is due to the minimal amount of raw gems wasted during the cutting and polishing process. A princess-cut diamond may utilize up to 80% of the original stone, while a polished round-cut diamond only needs approximately 40%.

If you’re searching for a huge diamond but don’t want to spend a lot of money on a round brilliant cut, the princess cut is a beautiful alternative.

Cushion Cut

Cushion cut diamonds are square-shaped with rounded corners, like a pillow – hence the name. The cushion cut comes in numerous versions, all of which rely on its exact light dispersion to give an astounding amount of fire and glitter.

The cushion cut’s one of the most incredible diamond shapes in terms of value for money.

Cushion-cut diamonds are remarkably inexpensive since only a tiny fraction of the original rough diamond is wasted during the cutting and polishing process.

Learn More: Antique Cushion Cut Vs Modern Cushion Cut

Emerald Cut

Emerald cut diamonds feature a broad table surface and long, straight lines known as “steps” that provide stunning reflections. Although some emerald cut diamonds have a square form, most emerald cut diamonds are rectangular.

Due to the broad table of the emerald cut, imperfections in the diamond are easily seen. As a result, it would be better to pick an emerald cut diamond with a relatively high clarity grade – a VS1 or VS2 grade is optimal for most diamonds.

Like the cushion and princess cuts, the emerald cut makes use of a significant portion of the rough diamond. As a result, it is a fantastic value-for-money alternative.

This diamond cut’s unusual shape gives it a more prominent look than many other diamond shapes of comparable carat weight – and that’s always a plus.

Related Read: Radiant Cut Vs. Emerald Cut

Oval Cut

Oval-cut diamonds are formed like an oval, as the name indicates. This form has a high level of durability as well as excellent brightness.

The oval cut’s apparent size is one of its key advantages: Oval-cut diamonds appear to be bigger than they are because they’re cut and polished into an elongated shape.

Oval cut diamonds utilize more of the rough gemstone than round cut diamonds, resulting in greater value for money.

Consequently, if you want a diamond that looks enormous, spectacular, and bright, but you don’t want to pay the price of a round brilliant cut, this shape is a great option.

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Radiant Cut

The radiant diamond cut was created in the 1970s by Henry Grossbard. The main idea was to combine the principal qualities of the round brilliant cut – most notably, its brilliance – with the emerald cut’s apparent great size.

Radiant cut diamonds have between 62 and 70 facets, with most of them on the pavilion. Like oval and emerald cut diamonds, radiant cut diamonds feature a distinctive form that makes them look larger than they are.

Plus, diamonds with this cut are long-lasting.

Inclusions are difficult to spot in this style of diamond because of their numerous facets. So, a diamond with a clarity grading of SI1 or SI2 might still appear excellent.

Asscher Cut

The Asscher cut is a form of step-cut diamond shape with 58 facets that was first designed by the Royal Asscher firm in the early twentieth century.

Asscher cut diamonds can resemble square emerald cuts in appearance.

The purity and sparkle of diamonds cut in this form are highlighted, which implies that if the color and clarity are good, they can seem striking.

However, any inclusions in the diamond will be more evident than they would be in a round brilliant or princess cut diamond.

Asscher cut diamonds utilize a substantial percentage of the original raw diamond due to their emerald cut resemblance. As a result, they often provide greater value per carat than round cut and comparable diamonds.

Fancy Diamond Shapes

Marquise Cut

The Marquise cut is a flattering and lovely diamond cut that goes back to the 18th century. It was introduced when King Louis XV of France demanded a diamond cut in the shape of his principal mistress, Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson, Marchioness Madame de Pompadour.

The Marquise cut has a distinct form that makes it appear bigger than numerous diamonds of equivalent carat weight cut in different ways.

The cut quality of a Marquise diamond might be difficult to determine due to its elegant form, though.

Heart Cut

Heart-shaped diamonds are charming – and they’re a terrific way to show your fiancé-to-be how much you care.

The heart form is a modified variation of the round brilliant cut. However, it might not appear as such at first glance. It’s critical to select a heart-shaped diamond with excellent symmetry, particularly in the lobes.

Being a brilliant cut, the heart shape does a superb job of disguising minor imperfections that might be present inside the diamond.

Despite their similarities, heart-shaped diamonds use substantially more of their initial rough diamond than round brilliant diamonds. As a result, they’re far less expensive than a round brilliant cut diamond.

Pear Cut

Pear-shaped diamonds have a rounded side that narrows to a point at the other end of the diamond, making them timeless and exquisite.

It’s vital to hunt for a pear-shaped diamond with the proper proportions – although the same could be said for any other beautiful diamond shape.

Pear-shaped diamonds utilize more of the raw diamond than round brilliant diamonds due to their distinctive form, making them a fantastic value alternative.

This shape hides inclusions effectively, so a stone with an SI1 or SI2 clarity grade will still be gorgeous and eye-clean.

Why Shapes Of Diamonds Matter?

Every diamond is one-of-a-kind in its regard. The form and cut dictate how it will reflect light, resulting in the sparkle element that so many people seek in their diamonds.

However, it can also create the impression that a diamond is more extensive than it actually is, leading to people believing they have a more valuable piece of jewelry.

Which Shape of Diamond Is The Best One?

Round diamonds offer the most brightness and sparkle, but they’re also the most expensive. While fancy diamond cuts are significantly less costly than round brilliants, none provide the same level of radiance.

Furthermore, locating a well-cut fancy-shaped diamond might be challenging.

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

The Most Expensive and Most Affordable Diamond Shapes

The round brilliant cut is generally the most costly diamond shape in terms of carat weight per dollar. That is due to the vast percentage of the raw diamond that must be tossed during the cutting and polishing process.

The Asscher, radiant, emerald, cushion, and princess cuts, on the other hand, offer excellent value in terms of sheer carat weight. These shapes can cost up to 45% less per carat than a round cut diamond of comparable color and clarity.

It’s worth noting that some cuts are more prone to showing color, inclusions, and other faults than others, which might impact their look and price.

However, if the size of the diamond is your primary concern, it’s evident that many fancy cuts give outstanding value for money. If you want a large center gem but don’t have the funds for a round brilliant cut diamond, one of the fancy shape diamonds is a perfect choice.

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Reasons Why Round Cut Is The Most Popular (And Expensive)

Even though we’ve several engagement ring trends over the years, the round diamond has remained much more popular than any other form. They are the most costly diamond form due to their great demand – but this isn’t the only cause.

Here are some of the other reasons why round cut diamonds are the most valued shape:

They reflect the light better

Round diamonds are cut in such a manner that their brilliance shines through. They feature that dazzling shine that people look for in jewelry, especially when it’s something that will be worn frequently – such as an engagement ring or wedding band.

And since round diamonds are proportionate, light reflects into the stone, making it appear brighter and more enticing.

They require more raw material

To cut a round diamond, you’ll need a bigger raw diamond than any other form. When cutting a diamond, the objective is to produce as little waste as possible. However, the overall waste produced by round-cut diamonds is more than that produced by other shapes.

That’s why they have a higher per-carat value than fancy-shaped diamonds.

They are very precise, unlike other shapes

Because round diamonds are all cut the same manner, you know what you’re getting when you buy one. On the other hand, other diamond forms are not in this category.

For example, diamonds with a princess cut are frequently thought to be square. They aren’t necessarily square, though, and are more commonly rectangular. These imperfections can degrade the cut quality and the way the diamond reflects light, lowering its value.

On the other hand, round-shaped diamonds are significantly easier to cut accurately.

Which Diamond Cut Holds Its Value: Conclusion

When deciding on the diamond shape that provides the most value for your money, there are various factors to consider.

An emerald is the best value for money if you’re searching for a big, cheap stone. Consider a pear, marquise, or princess shape for a distinctive, bright look.

If you want the most conventional diamond form, though, nothing matches a round diamond – if you’re willing to spend a little extra for it, that is.

In the end, consider your other half’s taste and style while searching for an engagement ring, in addition to price and looks!