What Is Hearts And Arrows Diamond? What Makes Them Special?

There are some characteristics of diamonds that have always been regarded as the point of prestige.

Surely enough, hearts and arrows diamonds possess some of them – and we’re here to dig deeper into the matter of the quality of this precision-cut diamond shape.

The heart and arrows diamond has a rich past, and it’s connected to one of the most famous love myths of all time. That makes them more than just a sight for sore eyes – it gives them a personality of their own, too.

But we don’t want to give away too much too soon.

So, without any further ado, let’s jump straight into the article and find out everything there is about these diamonds!

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When Did These Diamonds Become Popular?

Diamond cutting is not strictly related to strict professionalism – even though that’s something you’re used to hearing and reading almost daily.

On the contrary, diamond cutting can also be seen as liberal arts.

The emergence of hearts and arrows diamonds happened thanks to free research – so, let’s go back to the beginning of this story.

How did the hearts and arrows diamond come to exist?

Back in the 1980s, Japanese jewelry cutters did extensive research. As a result, they were the first to discover the so-called kaleidoscopic effect while examining a round brilliant cut diamond through a scope.

But at that time, diamonds didn’t feature their perfectly symmetrical faces.

So, what did the Japanese diamond cutters do?

They started to work on a new polishing technique, and eventually…The market welcomed yet another quality diamond – the hearts and arrows (H&A) diamond.

Of course, this discovery was never meant to stay hidden; it has quickly spread worldwide.

By the end of 1990, H&A diamonds found their way to the already large American market, where the professionals already underwent training and were ready to mass-produce this diamond.

The Invention Of Firescope: All Thanks To H&A Diamonds

It seems that the beauty of this diamond is not the only discovery that took place in Japan.

During the 1970s and 1980s, while researching the composition of this stone, the Japanese discovered the so-called “Firescope” – a machine that was designed for light-mapping.

The question that follows is, why did they need such a machine?

Well, it turned out to be pretty valuable for diamond-cutting: The Firescope helped the researchers to better distinguish the properties of each stone and establish a precise evaluation of quality.

Those efforts were definitely worthwhile – and you’ll see why in a couple of minutes.

All in all, you could say that the emergence of this fine-cut diamond led to another remarkable invention of the machine that helped upgrade diamond quality in general.

Hearts And Arrows Diamond – A Connection To Cupid?

There are a lot of people that would support this theory.

How could they not? Diamonds have always been associated with love – even when it is unrequited.

Here’s the theory: An arrow through the heart symbolizes the emotionally wounded, of course by love. And as you might have guessed, the arrow comes from Cupid – a popular figure in classical mythology.

Cupid is portrayed as a cute chubby baby in diapers, flying around with a bow and arrow. And according to the legend, when Cupid strikes you with the arrow, it will fill you with uncontrollable love and desire for whoever you laid your eyes on first.

Let’s say that this diamond is a way of showing your unconditional love for someone. By giving it to them, you essentially act as if Cupid has struck you.

Here’s a suggestion for those of you who are currently out there searching for a soulmate: Maybe go shopping for an H&A diamond?

The Shape – Catching All The Eyes

The shape of these dreamy diamonds sets them apart from the rest of the bunch.

It’s beautiful and unique – as every jewelry piece should be to the one who’s looking. But beauty in the diamond industry has a lot more to do with the actual characteristics of the diamond.

So, what makes the H&A diamond stand out from the crowd?

Hearts and arrows diamonds are 57-faceted diamonds that you all know and love. Well, they’re a variation of them, at least. And to be quite honest, they’re the closest you’ll get to perfection in diamond terms.

These diamonds’ recognizable look and shine come from their symmetrical faucets – no doubt. But apart from the symmetry we all admire, the round shape makes it distinguishable from the rest of the square or rectangular-shaped diamonds, which are common these days.

We get it. Everyone’s looking for something special – and this seems like a good deal. And it is.

Also, the shine that hearts and arrows diamonds have is unbeatable if the symmetry is precise. If you’re looking for that show-stopping “bling,” this should be number one on your shopping list.

Learn More: Diamond Shapes: All Different Types of Diamond Shapes

The Price – Are These Diamonds Worth It?

Most of these diamonds are quite expensive – as you would expect from a round brilliant cut. Of course, with such a large jewelry market, there will always be a few exceptions – including some budget-friendly options that we’re not going to talk about right now.

What we may say with certainty is that the price of hearts and arrows diamonds varies. A solitaire ring at Hearts on Fire, set with a 1.0-ct, G-H VS-SI1 diamond, would set you back by $11,600.

It would be bold of us to assume that everyone has a budget as flexible as this; it’s not realistic for most. That is definitely a higher price than most people would be comfortable with – which is completely understandable.

Of course, there’s also the carat weight. You should take that into account while you’re looking – especially on a budget.

It’s not a secret: These diamonds are considered premium – and the price tag that comes with them is premium, as well. Why?

Well, to put it simply, the amount of work required to create this high-precision cut and ensure it meets the exact hearts and arrows standards is insane.

Considering the popularity of these diamonds and the feeling of prestige that comes with them, some would say that the price is fair – but that all depends on the point of view.

Here’s some great news for those who are interested: There isn’t a fixed price for these diamonds.

To bring the price closer to you, let’s take a look at the cost of round brilliant diamond cuts since they have the hearts and arrows pattern on them.

For a 1-carat round brilliant cut diamond, you can expect to pay between $2,500 and $18,000, which is quite a number.

Keep in mind that the price applies to a 1-carat diamond. So, if you wish to go with a bigger diamond, you will come across a more significant price tag, as well.

For example, if you wish to go with twice the size of a 1-carat round brilliant cut diamond, you should expect the price of around $29,000.

Their prestige comes from their popularity, unique shape – and, of course, their facets that are more recognizable than anything else you would find in the world of diamonds.

Related Read: What Is The Cheapest Cut Of Diamond?

The Possible Limitations

Anyone who has any knowledge and experience in picking out jewelry knows that they must first check a couple of crucial factors before handing in the cash.

And just like with any other diamond, H&A diamonds have their limitations.

Let’s get straight to discussing a couple of vital ones.

First, you’d want to focus on symmetry.

To view the arrows of the diamond, you should position the scope on the top. Contrary to that, if you want to check out the hearts, look at the diamond face-down.

Note: If a diamond shows symmetrical arrows, that doesn’t mean it will also show symmetrical hearts – and vice versa.

Next, you should pay attention to the light performance of the diamond.

If you take a look with the naked eye, you’ll probably think it’s symmetrical and could overlook any possible flaws. Don’t rush your decision, though; take a closer look through your scope.

If you compare it with another one, you might conclude that one is superior to the other in terms of fire.

How come?

The slight flaws that could only be seen through magnification can influence the diamond’s fire and scintillation.

While this might not be evident to a regular customer right away, diamond professionals can immediately notice this with the help of their equipment.

Tips Before Buying A Diamond

Whether it’s a hearts and arrows diamond or any other, you should consider a couple of factors before you swipe your card and finalize the purchase.

See The Diamond First

Here’s one thing you should never do: You should never buy a diamond before seeing it in person first!

Online shopping – especially with diamonds – is risky because the quality of the picture can be drastically different from what you get in the mail.

Whether they are mined or lab-created diamonds, it would be good to look up the jewelry store on the Internet for research purposes but actually to go down to the store and then decide: To buy or not to buy?

Especially when it comes to a specific type of diamond, such as the hearts and arrows diamond, in this case, you should always see them up close beforehand.

Inquire About Carat Weight

One of the essential things to do before buying a diamond is to inquire about carat weight. There’s such a thing as “magic numbers” when it comes to carats, which indicates that the price might go up.

These include the following carat weights:

Consider Possible Alternatives

Let’s say you wanted to buy yourself a real mined diamond. However, the price of the one you like is still out of your budget.

What should you do? Our advice would be to consider a possible alternative – lab-created diamonds. If you think about it – it might not be that bad.

The popularity of these diamonds has skyrocketed in the last couple of years. The difference in quality is almost invisible – and the prices can be up to 30% lower.

Related Read: Lab-created Diamond Vs. Natural Diamond

Ask For The Certificate

Whatever shape or type of diamond you’re aiming for, whether it’s mined or lab-grown, you must not forget to ask for the certificate.

Yup, jewelry shopping is a serious business.

This piece of paper means a lot, especially to the buyer. If your diamond is legit, it will come with a certificate issued by a reputable laboratory confirming its quality.

The diamond’s quality, cut, and clarity will be clearly indicated on this certificate. Even if you decide to sell your diamond later, this could help you convince your potential buyer that it is legit and not a scam.

Summing Up

That would be it for H&A diamonds. Let’s see what stuck, shall we?

For starters, the hearts and arrows diamond is relatively new to the diamond market – it was first discovered by Japanese researchers in the 1980s. It found its way to the American market a decade later.

These diamonds actually come from the already popular round brilliant cut, which makes them even more special. But not only that – it ramps up their prices, as well.

Without a couple of thousands set aside for a hearts and arrows diamond, you may be coming home to your loved one empty-handed.

But don’t worry, the price for these diamonds is not set. So, there is hope for those of you who are on a tight budget at the moment.

And remember – if you’re thinking of saving up for an H&A diamond, you should get it checked out first!