When people think of diamonds, a round glittering stone usually comes to mind. Other diamonds take on whimsical shapes like hearts or pears. Angular jewels like squares or rectangles are also gorgeous. They come in many cut styles such as step, mixed and brilliant, and all look good on diamond rings. Some of the more popular cuts of this type include emeralds, asschers, princesses and triangles.
Emerald cut diamonds are rectangular with cropped corners. They’re step cut, with a broad top and bottom facets and nested facets on the sides. The cut downplays brilliance in favor of showcasing the interior crystal. Diamonds with high clarity grades do well in emerald cut engagement rings.
The first Asscher cut debuted in 1902, while the Royal Asscher cut came out in 1999. Both versions are square step cut stones with cropped corners and a focus on clarity and luster over brilliance. The first Asscher cut has 58 facets and three rows each on the top and bottom halves. The Royal Asscher cut has 16 extra facets on its lower half. While they have step cut’s focus on clarity, they both have more brilliance than emerald cuts.
Princess cut diamonds are square shaped stones. The jewel is mixed cut, with a step cut top and brilliant lower half. This cutting method aims to create bright stones that sacrifice less carat to create. Princess cut engagement rings are popular among those who enjoy brilliance but prefer a less traditional shape. The cut also makes appearances in eternity wedding bands, side stones and channel settings.
Triangular diamonds come in many variations. Among these are step and brilliant cuts. The former concentrates on luster while the latter has greater brilliance. While triangular diamonds have three equal sides and angles, some have cropped corners while others have defined points. Triangles are often found as side stones, though they make stand out central stones.
