Emerald Cut Diamond

Emerald cut diamonds are a classic example of a step cut. The emerald cut was originally conceived for emeralds rather than diamonds because the emerald stone is comparatively brittle and the step cut is the safest way to shape the stone without fracturing it. Later, it was transposed to emerald cut diamonds in an attempt to accentuate the clarity of a diamond rather than increase it’s refraction, fire, and brilliance. The emerald cut diamond is essentially a statement of the clarity of the stone by the wearer, since emerald cut diamonds allow the observer to see right through the stone. Though the fire of the round brilliant diamond can be attractive, they can also hide imperfections that the emerald cut diamond cannot.

In the glitzy world we live in, emerald cut diamonds are less in vogue than the round brilliant or the radiant cut diamond, and the plus side is that due to this, emerald cut diamonds are generally less expensive than other cuts, all other things being equal. This has nothing at all to do with the quality of the stone, but to demand for sparkliness, if there is such a word.

As for the shape of emerald cut diamonds themselves, they take the form of a rectangle with lopped off corners in order to decrease the amount of stress points in the diamond and to make it more structurally stable. The step cut gives a look of stairs running from the center of the emerald cut diamond until the edge, each step being transparent right to the other side of the stone. This means that if there are any imperfections, they are immediately visible. This is why emerald cut diamondsare gutsy, and must only be executed on the most perfect stones.

Emerald cut diamonds are far more common among antique jewelry dealers and show off a rather Victorianesque ambiance. Their golden age was the Art Deco period, from around 1925 until 1940. Similar cuts to the emerald cut diamondare the asscher cut, which is a square emerald cut, and the trilliant cut, which is a triangular shaped emerald cut diamond.

So if you feel like standing out and not just sporting another of the same popular cut, you may want to think seriously about owning an emerald cut diamond. Economical and unique, they’re not your everyday diamond.