Round Gems and Pear Gems and Square Gems, oh my!
Think of your dream engagement ring…! Now think about the shape of the center stone; do you know what it’s called? If you don’t, that’s ok because there are many! Join us as we explore the shape and cut of gemstones.
First, let’s separate them into two groups: cabochon and faceted.
Typically, cabochon cuts are used for turquoise, opal, moonstone, and other semi-precious gemstones and have a simple rounded surface. A cabochon cut helps these gemstones retain their color while obscuring any scratches or dirt that may appear on their surface. Cabochon cuts are great for softer gemstones that receive 7 or below on the MOHS hardness scale.
Faceted, on the other hand, is all about the sparkle! A faceted cut is also referred to as a brilliant cut and is what you see used on most precious gems including the big 3: diamond, sapphire, and emerald. Each facet allows light to hit and reflect off the gemstone in multiple directions by using lines and angles. Faceted cuts range from simple to complex and continue to be preferred among all owners.
And surprise! A rose cut is a combination of the two! While they do sparkle far less than their faceted counterpart, there are some benefits to consider. A rose cut has no pavilion (the pointed bottom) so they offer a lower profile when set and may be a great choice for someone with an active lifestyle. Rose cut gemstones will appear larger than the traditional faceted cut of the same carat weight. If you want unique, then rose cut may be for you. You will be hard pressed to find others with a rose cut engagement ring, though they are gaining some popularity.
Now that you’re an expert on cabochon, faceted, and rose cut, let’s dive into different gem shapes.
FIRST UP WE HAVE THE CLASSIC ROUND!
This is the most popular shape and probably what you imagine when you think of a diamond. Most round cut diamonds have a whopping 58 facets to optimize light reflection, giving you the most sparkle! Now you know why brilliant round diamonds make up 70% of the market.
NEXT UP, THE EXQUISITE PRINCESS!
Princess cut is considered the baby of the group because it emerged first in 1960, and didn’t gain popularity in the epic ‘80’s. That being said, some attribute it to evolving from the French cut which has its roots in the table cut from the 14th century. This cut usually has around 60-70 facets making its sparkle compete with the brilliant round!
NOW FOR THE GORGEOUS OVAL!
This cut has been around for hundreds of years but has recently gained popularity. Many prefer oval for a few reasons; it often makes the fingers appear slimmer and more elongated, it has all rounded sides and is less prone to chipping, and ovals have a bit more character and are almost always more affordable than brilliant round.
NEXT WE HAVE THE MARVELOUS MARQUISE!
The marquise shape has a fascinating history! Legend says that King Louis XV met a woman named Jean Antoinette Poisson and the king said that she had the most perfect lips he’d ever seen. The king then commissioned a jeweler to create a diamond cut to look like her lips. This cut can also elongate fingers. In addition, the marquise shape looks larger than brilliant rounds of the same weight because so much of its weight is visible from the top view.
ON TO THE PERFECT PEAR!
This shape is a beautiful mix between marquise and round brilliant and is sometimes called a teardrop. This elegant cut is timeless and dates back to mid-1400’s! Many prefer this cut because it easily hides inclusions – especially near the point. To protect that point, we highly recommend using a v-shaped prong when designing your ring! Pear shaped diamonds are trending with celebrities including: Ariana Grande, Paris Hilton, Cardi B, and many more!
FINALLY, WE HAVE THE EXQUISITE EMERALD SHAPE!
Not to be confused with the emerald gemstone! Unlike most of the other shapes, the emerald shaped stone uses a step cut creating crisp, linear lines which makes them experts at flashing both white and rainbow light. They gained their popularity in the Roaring 20’s because of their geometric art-deco style. They are very versatile and look stunning in both vintage and modern styled rings.
We’ve highlighted the most popular shapes of gemstones, but there are many more! Every shape has a unique personality, just like you! We are ready to help you find the diamond (or any other gemstone) that speaks to you!
We invite you to book a design session, online or in-shop (Provo, Utah), with one of our amazing designers at FORGE! Not only are they expert designers, but they are also experts in all shapes and sizes of stones and will give you the inside scoop on your stone! Our design sessions are 100% free and you will have a custom design in about an hour. We look forward to designing together!
