ADORN SOME FANCY SHAPED DIAMONDS!!

Besides the conventional diamond shapes, there are some unique variety of geometrical shaped diamonds for those who love to explore the unexplored. Unusual shapes of diamonds come in a wide range and these can be converted into custom jewelry that is unique and exceptional. Below listed are a few forms of unconventional forms that one can expect.

1. TABLET SHAPED DIAMONDS: In these the stone is cut in the form of a tablet, with three straight sides and one end curved. A popular example of this shape is the Ten Commandments diamond which is in the form of a tablet.

2. TRIANGULAR SHAPED DIAMONDS: These diamonds resemble a prism and have a lot of brilliance. These can be used as solitaires and can also be inlaid in the metal for a simple yet elegant look.

3. SHIELD SHAPED DIAMONDS: These stones are cut in the form of a shield used in battles as implied by the name.

  

4. KITE SHAPED DIAMONDS: This is one of the oldest fancy diamond shape known. Its shape resembles a kite. The kite shaped diamond looks better as side stones of a major solitaire.

5. KISSING SHAPED DIAMONDS: This is another very unusual shape of a diamond which still has to find its way in the market. As the name indicates, the single elongated stone is cut and shaped in a way that it resembles the shape of two lips in a kiss.

6. HORSE HEAD SHAPED DIAMONDS: These diamonds are in the shape of a horse’s head. They carry exceptional details and high clarity which brings a lot of brilliance and make this shape extremely fascinating. This shape is most suitable for settings in pendants, ear rings and rings. It is a hot seller with horse lovers.

7. BUDDHA SHAPED DIAMONDS: As is obvious from the name, this diamond resembles a meditating Buddha. It is completely handcrafted and sculpted out from one single round diamond. It is a three dimensional work of art and is associated with lot of charm, class and good luck. It has 56 facets and refracts light in all seven colors of the rainbow.

8. CHRISTMAS SHAPED DIAMONDS: This diamond is shaped in the form of a Christmas tree. The single round diamond is cut in a triangular shape with roves to give it the shape of a pine tree. Though it is not very popular, such stones can make excellent festive jewelry and they are suitable for pendants and ear rings.

9. HALF MOON SHAPED DIAMONDS: These stones are in the shape of a crescent. The stone is these are cut straight on one side while the other edge is rounded. Initially these diamonds were cut from broken or cracked round diamonds. Cutting half moon diamonds causes a lot of loss in diamond weight for getting proper brilliance. 

10. FLORAL SHAPED DIAMONDS: These are very popular and can be obtained either through a solitaire or by clustering small diamonds together. Flower shapes are obtained by using a combination of five fancy cut shapes. These are zinnia, marigold, Dahlia, fire rose and sunflower cut. Unconventional cutting angles are usually employed to obtain maximum brilliance for these diamonds.

11. LEAF SHAPED DIAMONDS: Leaf shaped diamonds are yet another example of the diamond shapes inspired by the nature. Many small stones in this shape can be set together to give a resemblance of a leaf. Solitaires like the four leaf clover designs titled lucky leaf are quite prevalent in the designer's world too. The maple leaf is also very popular version.

12. STAR SHAPED DIAMONDS: To give jewelry a festive look, diamonds can also be cut in the shape of a star. Larger diamonds are ideal for star shaped diamonds. They are popular for settings in pendants, bracelets, ear rings, brooch pins and finger rings.

13. BUTTERFLY SHAPED DIAMONDS: This is beautiful shape that complements the natural beauty of diamonds. Butterfly shaped solitaires look very elegant. Diamonds in this shape can be complemented with other stones for maximum elegance.

 Besides all the above mentioned exceptional shapes of diamonds there are many other fancy shaped diamonds that depend on the designer’s creativity. It is also very important to note that the shape does not affect the diamond’s quality.

Various Diamond Shapes for Unique Jewelry Designs

Diamonds are the most elegant stones. When designed in a piece of jewelry they give an adorable look to the wearer. There are multiple options available for diamond cuts to choose from because they come in many different shapes. A lapidist cuts the stone based on the initial shape of the raw diamonds and gives a final shape to the stone. Basically, diamond shape is enhanced with trimmed or round corners with additional facets featuring to enhance the stone beauty. 

Understanding the basic features of diamond shape will help you analyze your preferences, personality, and budget. Let’s find out about the popular shapes below.


Round shape: It is the most basic shape, usually considered for traditional solitaire engagement rings. However, it has become a popular choice among couples and it is usually set with four or six prong and channel settings. Further on, it can be seen with or without accent stones mostly in engagement rings and wedding band. 


Emerald Shape: It is rectangular in shape with trimmed corners. The clarity of the stone is little difficult to analyze because, it has less facets for light reflections that hide it's minor flaws. It can also be designed with multiple side stones to support the extended shape. 


Pear Shape:  It is popularly known as tear drop shape diamond. Many couples refer this shape for their engagement rings. Pear shapes are also seen in most of the stunning pieces of diamond jewelry such as necklace, pendant and earrings. Pear shape rings give a stunning look on thin fingers.


Heart Shape:  Heart shape diamond is one the favorite choice for most couples. Heart shape is usually considered for pendant, earring, charms and bracelets. In this shape, cut is difficult to analyze because of its hidden flaws or defects, so make sure about the flaws before buying.


Marquise Shape: It looks like a boat–shape having gently curved sides with pointed ends. It can be designed with small accented stones connected with the center diamond to define the traditional beauty of the engagement ring; you can also consider this shape for wedding bands as well. 


Radiant Shape: This shape has clear lines like step-cut or parallel line facets. The trimmed corners of the stone show the brilliance of the stone. You can set this stone in any form of jewelry as it is less ideal for engagement rings because of its rarity.



Princess Shape: It looks like a square shape, with no trimmed corners.  This shape is usually found in an engagement ring specifically design with multiple gems. The shape is less expensive than other shapes because of its natural crystalline which is easier to cut. Its color quality is the main aspect to look at as there are chances of color visibility at the corner of the stone.


Oval Shape:  It is somewhat similar to round-brilliant cut which combines the round's sparkle with a flattering outline. This shape is be an excellent choice for women having small fingers. You can consider this cut for solitaire diamond as it blends with the length of the finger instead of focal point. 


Asscher shape:  This is the most elegant shape with deeply trimmed edges. This shape is rarely found because of its remarkable beauty. When designing a jewelry piece with an asscher cut diamond shape, make sure to buy from an authorized dealer.  


Cushion Shape: It is designed like a pillow or cushion with smooth shapes. Cushion shapes are rarely found. They are a good option for setting them as solitaire diamond for engagement rings.

The Four C’s of Buying Diamonds

Diamonds are the most expensive gem and when shopping for it you need to look at the basic attributes that are highlighted in the diamond's 4C’s – cut, color, clarity and carat.

Cut: A cut defines the facet arrangement of diamond that is further called as Shape. People get confused with cut and shape. But, they are two different aspects of the same coin. Basically, the craftsman shows his skills by arranging the facet of the stone in such a way that the light which enters through diamond should get reflected directly back to the viewer's eye.

Diamond cutters are solely responsible to make or break the light that enters through the stone. Hence, too shallow or too deep cut can cause light to "leak" out from the sides and bottom of the diamond.

GIA has set parameters that evaluate diamond cut and grade them as follows:

* Ideal

* Premium

* Very Good

* Good

* Fair and Poor.

The better the Cut grade, the more expensive is the diamond.

Color: Here the color refers to the transparency of the gem, because colorless diamonds are more valuable than a colored stone. With the exclusion of "fancy colored diamonds", colorless diamonds are very rare and highly in demand. Diamond color has been graded on a GIA scale from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow). 

Clarity: It refers to the internal flaws that are called as inclusions such as small flaws, air bubbles, scratches, tint or other minerals within the diamond. The inclusion of diamond would result on its price. However, diamond with less inclusions is more precious and attractive.

The scale for grading diamond's clarity is:

F Flawless – No inclusions.

IF Internally Flawless - Slight inclusions in the exterior of the gem.

VVS1-VVS2 Very Very Slightly Included - minute inclusions that are very difficult to detect on 10x magnifications loupe.

VS1-VS2 Very slightly included - tiny inclusions, invisible to the naked eye and can only see through the 10x magnification loupe.

SI1-SI2 Slightly included - invisible to the naked eye, yet easily visible under 10x magnifications.

I1-I3 Included - inclusions are visible to the naked eye and affect on its brilliance.

When deciding on clarity, people usually go with SI2 and VS1 diamonds, without knowing their differences. A diamond that falls between VVS2 to F is very rare and expensive so, make sure you select the stone with proper evaluations.

Carat: A carat refers to the size and actual weight of a diamond. One carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams. Carat is also evaluated in numerical values.

For example:

* One carat diamond equals to 100 points,

* One-half carat diamond is consider as 50 points

* Three-quarter carat diamond as 75 points and so on.

Big diamonds are more expensive than smaller one of the same quality because of its rarity. For example: one carat diamond is much more expensive than value of multiple small diamonds of the same quality and total carat weight.

How to analyze a diamonds color

Diamond evaluation can be done on the basis of four C’s – Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat as they are considered the most important attributes. However, diamond color is one of the main aspects that you need to look at while purchasing a diamond. The basic knowledge of the diamond in terms of 4c’s makes your investment worthwhile.

Diamond Color Variations:

A colorless diamond is more valuable than a colored diamond because it impacts its prices. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has set a standardized method to grade a diamond color. The diamond color has been analyzed on the basis of its colored stones that could be specified through the grading procedure.

Diamond Color Grading Procedure

a) Color grading is done on loose diamond because once the diamond is placed on metal then it is difficult to detect the amount of color the stone has.

b) 10X magnification loupe is used to locate the amount of color in white diamonds

c) GIA grading scale categorizes the diamond color in alphabetical order from D to Z

Diamond Color Grading Scale Ratings:

A colorless diamond is judged through the grading scale – that shows the presence of colors the stone has. They are as follows:

* D-E-F: Colorless.
* G-H-I-J: Nearly colorless.
* K-L-M: Faintly tinted, usually yellow.
* N-O-P-Q-R: Lightly tinted, usually yellow. Tint can be visible through naked eye.
* S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z: Tinted, usually yellow, cloud turns as brownish color since; the tint is easily visible to the naked eye, even when mounted.

Fluorescence: It is one of the factors that affect diamond color. GIA diamond reports and many other lab reports show that all diamonds have certain amount of fluorescence, since diamond changes its color when it gets exposed to ultra violet rays.

For Instance: Diamonds with blue reflection appear whiter or more colorless under UV light and the yellow fluoresce appear more yellow in bright light

Identifying the color of a diamond is easier than expected. The color grading scale simplifies the diamond quality to fit your budget. However, if you don’t want to compromise then choose the diamond that falls in D to F grade and to save some amount you can opt for G to J grade. This way you can select your own diamond as per your budget specification without an expert opinion.

Certified loose diamonds are better choice for Jewelry designs

Shopping for loose diamond is the most perfect choice when it comes to jewelry. Loose diamonds can be available in different shapes and sizes. In fact, it is the latest trend among couples to set their piece of jewelry with a stunning loose diamonds.

When designing a jewelry piece, couples are buying diamonds first, and then they look for the settings. The tradition of finding and selecting a pre-set diamond ring is limited to a few options. But today, there is a change in this tradition. 

The selection of a loose diamond opens the door in multiple ways to create the perfect engagement ring of your choice. Mostly, all jewelers advise you for loose diamonds rather than buying a pre –set engagement ring. 

It would give an idea about the type of ring you are looking for and at the same time the jeweler can understand your style. Thus, he can create the one that best describes your personality and also gives you maximum return of the investments with these certified loose diamonds in future. 

Shopping for loose diamonds is quite easy for a bride – as it gives multiple choices in terms of its shapes including round, pear, triangle, oval, tear drop and many more. The other aspect you can consider is the carat weight, color and the amount of money you're looking forward to invest. 

When shopping for loose diamond, you have to analyze its four C's – cut, clarity, color and carat. However, cut is the most important attribute, as its shows the overall beauty of a diamond associated with other three C’s of diamonds. 

Certified loose diamonds are an even better combination if you buy diamond jewelry settings because loose diamonds with certificates specify the true value of your investments.

Loose diamonds save lot of money as compared to pre-set diamond jewelry. If you make an effort to design your own jewelry piece, then loose diamond is a wonderful option to make your investment fruitful. This way you can save a good amount on your diamond shopping.

Tolkowsky Ideal Cut Diamond

The ideal cut diamond is the cut that most people desire to have in their piece of jewelry. It was in the year 1919, a well know engineer Marcel Tolkowsky published a book under the title ‘Diamond Design’. The book encapsulates the diamond proportions that form a merely round cut diamond to an ideally proportioned one, that would give maximum brilliance and stand out to an ideal cut diamond. 

Marcel Tolkowsky, a mathematician by profession, applied the fundamental law of physics to calculate a set of proportions that would cause the optical performance of a round brilliant cut diamond. Since, childhood he had got a real life exposure to diamond cutting process because his family were in the diamond business. 

The fundamental of an ideal cut diamond proved to be exceptional and got approved by well know experts from the diamond industry. Tolkowsky was contented as his studies of proportioning the diamond matched to his calculations which were initially used by experts. The experts in the diamond industry were quite happy with his analysis thus eventually making it the famous Ideal cut till date.

In the year 1950, AGS applied Tolkowsky’s model and made a few changes in the symmetry and polish of the diamond to complete their system. In 2006, they came up with a new method which was formed on light performance. Since then, they used quite similar proportions as to Tolkowsky and he became the creator of the modern round brilliant cut which is still rated as one of the best in the diamond industry!

All You Wanted to Know About Emerald Cut Diamond

The overview of any diamond is considered through its cut, as the cut is the main aspect for a diamond to form into a particular shape. However, Emerald Cut is one such shape that is known for its elegant beauty.

Most fancy cut loose diamonds are brilliantly cut to procure maximum amount of light that sparks and catches the eye of an individual. Emerald cut is one of the cuts that has become popular for its fine elegance rather than lesser light reflection as compared to round brilliant and princess cut.

The emerald cut loose diamond features the fine characteristics through “Step Cut”. The “Step Cut” usually designed with large facets gives a mirror reflection and resembles like a staircase, so is the name.

Loose emerald cut diamond is quite hard stone viz (7.5 - 8.0 on the MOHS scale), and known for its various inclusions such as naturally occurred internal flaws. These inclusions make the stone more damaged and breakable and at times it becomes very difficult to cut the stone.

In emerald cut, there are chances of imperfections or inclusions that can be visible in terms of flaws, color weakness, breakage and a poor cutting technique when it is cut into the emerald shape as compared to round brilliant cut. When shopping for Emerald cut loose diamond, the key essential is to look at its four C’s and overall quality of the diamond.

The Specifications of an Ideal proportioned Emerald cut diamond are- the depth and table ranges shown below that would differentiates the qualities of a cut.

• Depth Percentage
• Ideal: 72% – 60%
• Excellent: 76% – 56%
• Very Good: 78% – 54%
• Good: 80% – 50%

• Table Percentage
• Ideal: 72% – 60%
• Excellent: 74% – 55%
• Very Good: 76% – 50%
• Good: 80% – 50%

• Length-to-width ratio: 1.35:1 to 1.65:1.

To know more about the terms precisely, look for GIA Diamond Grade System.