When it comes to picking diamonds, most people follow their heart. Inspiration is a powerful tool. But here at Bromberg’s, our job is to provide our expertise as another tool that helps you find the diamond that speaks to both the depth of your feelings and what you are—or the recipient of the diamond is—worth. One of the most important tools when picking a diamond is understanding its cut.
It may sound strange, but a diamond’s “cut” isn’t its shape, exactly. It’s the symmetry, proportion, and polish of the stone, the elements that truly give the diamond its brilliance. A diamond’s cut is no frivolous decision. Far from it: diamond cutters optimize the stone’s original shape to determine its final cut, regardless of the diamond’s final purpose—from engagement ring to Mother’s Day gift.
In our last blog about selecting the perfect engagement ring, we briefly discussed the qualities that make a great diamond. In fact, all diamond connoisseurs know of four distinct qualities, which are referred to as the four Cs:
Cut is the most important of the four. It’s what gives a stone its twinkle. With a wide range of cuts available to you, the most common are Asscher, cushion, emerald, heart, marquise, oval, pear, and round brilliant. Here at Bromberg’s, we have noticed a few favorites.
Emerald is of an original class of diamond cuts. Originally designed for emeralds (of course), emerald cuts don’t quite sparkle like the others, a la the round brilliant. Rather, as a result of its elegantly simple geometry, an emerald diamond cut accentuates the stone’s clarity.
Apropos of the art deco era, emerald cuts are preferred for their ability to dazzle by way of simple elegance. The emerald cut tends to be slightly less expensive because of its antiquated connotations. But here at Bromberg’s, that’s exactly why we think the emerald cut diamond makes for such a great deal. Its simplicity is its sophistication.
Known for being the cut of the famous Hope Diamond, the cushion cut is beloved in our era. Ironically, the cushion cut diamond dates back to the 19th century, making, in our humble opinion, the antique nature of the emerald cut a victim of modern taste more than any slight against true aesthetic regard.
As far as engagement rings go, the cushion cut is one of the most popular. Square, with rounded corners, the cushion cut appears as a diminutive version of a pillow—hence the name. But don’t let the name deceive you. Cushion cut diamonds are known for their brilliance.
Cushion cuts are versatile as well, adaptable to more than the circumstance of an engagement. Because it features both roundness and corners, it’s easily matched with other accessories of varying shape and style.
Perhaps the most detailed of the bunch, the round brilliant cut is the engagement stone. Over the course of Bromberg’s storied history, our expert staff have seen future bridegrooms gravitate to round brilliant diamonds more than any other cut of diamond.
The round brilliant cut distinguishes itself from the simple round cut or old European-cut diamonds by boasting more color and reflecting more light, creating a show of pure fire and brilliance. These elements create an illusion of largeness, which of course can be a greatly desired feature.
Here’s a fun fact: round brilliant stones represent 75% of all diamonds sold in our modern era. Though more expensive, you get what you pay for. Roughly a century old, the round brilliant cut has become the standard-bearer for all diamonds sold today.
Though clarity, color, and carat play a big role in selecting the perfect diamond, cut is clearly the most important. The diamond’s cut influences all other aspects. And while we feel it’s best that our customers choose from the heart, working with Bromberg’s team makes all the difference.
Take a trip to one of our stores today or visit our website to get started on selecting the perfect diamond.