When the time comes to buy a diamond engagement ring, make sure you make the process as simple as possible by doing your research upfront.
For many men, engagement rings simply mean diamond solitaires, or clusters.
However, all diamonds are not the same and it is vital that you consider which cut is the perfect one for your future bride! "Cut" is the term used to describe the way in which the gem is shaped from the rough gemstone.
Antique diamonds from around the 1900s or earlier were typically cut to maximise carat weight.
The "antique cut" gave a diamond a small "table" relative to the depth of the gemstone.
This reduced the potential fire, or sparkle of the diamond.
In 1919, Marcel Tolkowsky calculated the internal ratios of a diamond which created the optimum balance between fire and brilliance.
Cutting the gemstone to maximise fire and brilliance rather than carat weight meant that the table of the gemstone was increased relative to its depth compared with the antique cut.
This new cut became known as the "brilliant cut".
It is the uniform standard to which diamond cutters now shape the majority of jewelry grade diamonds.
In fact over 80% of worldwide diamond sales today are of round, brilliant cut diamonds.
So if you asked the majority of men, and even women, what shape a diamond is, they would probably say "round"! But this is not necessarily the case.
All solitaires are not round! The actual shape of a diamond is determined by the interpretation of the internal structure of the diamond by the diamond cutter.
The best cut is the one which produces the best shape and fire for that particular gemstone whilst keeping the carat weight as high as possible.
This makes the skill of the diamond cutter supreme.
Flawless diamonds can sometimes be shaped from flawed rough diamonds if the flaws lie favorably.
And high grade diamonds can be ruined by unskilled cutting.
For the rarer flawless diamonds, it has been known for an individual cutter to take weeks or even months of looking at the uncut stone to determine the best cut.
Apart from the round brilliant cut, there are the emerald cut, the square princess cut, the heart cut, the elongated marquise cut, the oval cut, the pear cut and the radiant cut.
All of these shapes make wonderful solitaires, and none is more romantic than a heart shaped solitaire! Many lend themselves to clusters, and others can be combined to form really special engagement rings.
Take time to choose the perfect combination for your special lady.
For many men, engagement rings simply mean diamond solitaires, or clusters.
However, all diamonds are not the same and it is vital that you consider which cut is the perfect one for your future bride! "Cut" is the term used to describe the way in which the gem is shaped from the rough gemstone.
Antique diamonds from around the 1900s or earlier were typically cut to maximise carat weight.
The "antique cut" gave a diamond a small "table" relative to the depth of the gemstone.
This reduced the potential fire, or sparkle of the diamond.
In 1919, Marcel Tolkowsky calculated the internal ratios of a diamond which created the optimum balance between fire and brilliance.
Cutting the gemstone to maximise fire and brilliance rather than carat weight meant that the table of the gemstone was increased relative to its depth compared with the antique cut.
This new cut became known as the "brilliant cut".
It is the uniform standard to which diamond cutters now shape the majority of jewelry grade diamonds.
In fact over 80% of worldwide diamond sales today are of round, brilliant cut diamonds.
So if you asked the majority of men, and even women, what shape a diamond is, they would probably say "round"! But this is not necessarily the case.
All solitaires are not round! The actual shape of a diamond is determined by the interpretation of the internal structure of the diamond by the diamond cutter.
The best cut is the one which produces the best shape and fire for that particular gemstone whilst keeping the carat weight as high as possible.
This makes the skill of the diamond cutter supreme.
Flawless diamonds can sometimes be shaped from flawed rough diamonds if the flaws lie favorably.
And high grade diamonds can be ruined by unskilled cutting.
For the rarer flawless diamonds, it has been known for an individual cutter to take weeks or even months of looking at the uncut stone to determine the best cut.
Apart from the round brilliant cut, there are the emerald cut, the square princess cut, the heart cut, the elongated marquise cut, the oval cut, the pear cut and the radiant cut.
All of these shapes make wonderful solitaires, and none is more romantic than a heart shaped solitaire! Many lend themselves to clusters, and others can be combined to form really special engagement rings.
Take time to choose the perfect combination for your special lady.
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