Something called a princess cut diamond indeed sounds expensive. Well, you’d be both right – and wrong – if you’re thinking like that.
The princess cut diamonds are currently one of the most popular diamonds, and it seems that the fascination with this cut won’t be dying out anytime soon.
That leads us to believe that some of you are also interested in these diamonds – and are keen on learning everything you should know about them. Well, if that’s your mission – you are at the right place.
Today, we’ll talk about everything related to princess cut diamonds, including:
- What is a princess cut diamond?
- What is the anatomy of these diamonds?
- What’s the clarity of princess cut diamonds?
- What’s the color of princess cut diamonds?
- Are they worth the money?
- Why are they so popular?
If you’re interested in these topics, we highly suggest you keep scrolling, and we promise you’ll find something new to learn!
What Is The Princess Cut Diamond?
First of all – and before we get into some more seriously oriented topics – we have to learn about the basics. What is the princess cut diamond? That’s the first question we should answer since it’s the first question that should be asked when it comes to these diamonds.
Princess cut diamonds are well-known – even popular – for their sharp and geometric square-like shape. Significant influences on this cut were the french cut and the quadrillion cut, which were popular cuts in the first half of the 20th century.
These cuts had the square shape that the princess cut is so well known for – but they had some inconsistencies that the creators of the princess cut did improve upon over the years. The creators of this diamond cut were Betazel Ambar and Israel Itzkowitz. They developed it in the year 1980.
The princess cut almost immediately picked up the attention of the buyers, and before you know it – it became one of the most beloved and sought-after diamond cuts out there. But, more on the popularity of this diamond a bit later in the article!
Also, this diamond is one of the most used diamonds when it comes to engagement rings. So, people who do own them probably wear these diamonds everywhere – and all the time.
That just goes to show you that princess cut diamonds are popular for many reasons – but they are most often found in engagement rings in specific settings. That said, sometimes they can be seen in earrings, too.
So, we’d say that the answer to the initial question is: Princess cut diamonds are trendy engagement ring diamonds that were invented in the second half of the 20th century.
For more information, keep scrolling!
Anatomy Of The Princess Cut Diamond
Almost all fancy-looking cut diamonds have countless variations for cut grades. And contrary to cases with some cuts, there’s no pre-set expectation for what a princess cut should look like.
These cuts can differ by many things – such as the number of cuts on the pavilion. There are no real differences; it’s all a matter of preference. Some people prefer one thing, and others prefer – well, other things – when it comes to their princess cut diamonds.
With that said, the crown of a princess cut diamonds, or the part on the diamond that faces up when somebody looks at it can have either French corners or bezel corners.
A princess-cut diamond most often has between 50 and 58 facets. It all depends on how the diamond’s cut. Most of the facets are located on the crown and pavilion, with just a few on the girdle.
Princess cuts often also have two to four chevron patterns. These patterns are cross patterns that are seen when viewing the diamond directly from above. When a diamond has two chevron patterns, it reflects bolder flashes of white or colored light.
But if a diamond has four chevron patterns, the diamond has more scintillation – resulting in smaller flashes of white or colored light.
These diamonds seem pretty delicate – and you should examine them before buying one. Why?
These different variations of the princess-cut diamonds do make a considerable difference in the appearance and look that a princess-cut diamond has.
Although this diamond doesn’t have an exact look to strive for and exact guidelines that it needs to follow, there are some princess-cut diamonds variations that might simply sit better with you.
So, don’t hesitate to look for these diamonds in a few different places.
Clarity
Clarity is one of the most important things when it comes to choosing diamonds. The level of clarity that a diamond possesses is closely related to how expensive and rare it is.
Knowing this, you probably think that you should go for princess cut diamonds that have the best clarity levels out there – and you wouldn’t be far from the truth.
These diamonds are cut in a manner that allows for any inconsistencies to show themselves easier and be more visible – sometimes even to the naked eye.
That’s why clarity is crucial when we’re talking about these diamonds.
For reference sake, here’s how the GIA clarity chart looks. You can see what you should look for in a princess-cut diamond if you’re in the market for one:
- Flawless (FL)
- Internally Flawless (IF)
- Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1 and VVS2)
- Very Slightly Included (VS1 and VS2)
- Slightly Included (SI1 and SI2)
- Included (I1, I2, and I3)
It’s clear that you should avoid the included and slightly included princess cut diamonds since these are the diamonds with the lowest clarity and should not be purchased if they’re not your only option.
Very slightly included (VS1 and VS2) and very, very slightly included princess cut diamonds are the ones that are seen most often in the jewelry stores on engagement rings – and even more so on earrings.
The best diamonds have the clarity grade of internally flawless (or IF) and the flawless (or FL), and these are the diamonds that you’re aiming to get your hands on, really.
When it comes to clarity, it doesn’t get better than that. There are some exceptions, though.
There might be some cases where you see a very, very slightly included princess cut diamond that doesn’t have any apparent imperfections, meaning that it was cut in a manner that doesn’t show the inclusions. If you find one, go for it.
Color
When a diamond – such as a princess-cut diamond – is used for special pieces of jewelry, like engagement rings, the color should always be right.
There are a few variations of color seen in diamonds, but you should exclusively look to aim for princess cut diamonds that are as clear as day and don’t have any undertones.
There’s one undertone that comes to mind here as a good fit for princess-cut diamonds – and that’s the purple undertone. It would look stunning when coupled with a princess cut.
Usually, these diamonds are sold with no undertone whatsoever, looking as clear as they could be, and that’s how it’s supposed to be. Engagement rings are often subtle – and that should be the tone of the whole ring: A simple setting and a simple stone.
Because of that, you should aim for a princess-cut diamond that is on the colorless part of the spectrum when it comes to a diamond color. That’s where all the clear diamonds are.
Diamonds are found in a few different colors. We assume that some people have difficulty remembering the colors that diamonds come in, so here’s a small trick: Remember that diamonds come in all colors of the rainbow, as well as white, black, and gray diamonds.
All of these colors do look amazing, but princess cut diamonds shouldn’t have any serious color to them. The reasoning is pretty simple: With princess-cut diamonds, the accent should be on the cut – not on the color.
So, if you’re one of those people that prioritize the color of a diamond rather than the cut, you should look for other cuts (such as the emerald cut) that allow a wider spectrum of colors to be shown.
But trust us: These diamonds look amazing – even when the focus isn’t on their color!
Related Read:
Monetary Perspective: Is It Worth It?
Now it’s time to talk about the most important thing if you’re in the market for a princess-cut diamond – and that’s the price.
As with all diamonds, the price is also dictated by the cut quality, the clarity, and the color of the diamond – as well as the weight of the specific diamond.
For reference, let’s take a diamond that has a clarity grade of VS2, an I color, and weighs 1 carat.
A princess-cut diamond with attributes such as these can be purchased for between $3500 and $3700, which isn’t a lot – but isn’t a small price to pay for a gem, either.
The price of these diamonds can jump or depreciate with a few adjustments to the diamond, so you could even find a princess cut diamond that doesn’t have the best clarity and the best color for under $3000, which is quite a reasonable price for sure.
Remember that diamonds don’t lose value over time – but there are some oscillations when it comes to the price of a diamond. It depends on where you’re buying it, does it have some kind of a certificate, and if it does, which one; things like that.
A lot goes into the process of determining the price of a diamond – princess-cut or otherwise.
As we’ve said earlier, there might be diamonds with lower clarity grades that have an amazing color to them. So, be careful not to let an opportunity like this slip from your fingers!
Also, if you’re looking for a princess cut diamond, keep in mind that you’ll potentially be paying less for the actual setting. You should spend a couple of hundred dollars extra to get the higher quality diamond.
With princess cut diamonds, the accent is on the diamond and not the setting or the rest of the ring, so that’s where you’ll save up a bit.
Related Read: Which Diamond Cut Holds Its Value?
Growth In Popularity
We’ve mentioned several times already that these diamonds have gained popularity like no other diamond cut. Okay, there might be a few contenders, but princess cut diamonds are one of the most popular diamond cuts out there currently.
Although there are some diamonds that cost less than them and have a better price-to-quality ratio, these diamonds keep selling. That’s because they have a unique look to them: The viewer can’t immediately tell if it’s a triangular or a rectangular diamond.
This optical illusion comes from the facets and is what makes this diamond cut so phenomenal.
From the beginning, in 1980, this diamond cut was gaining some attention here and there. Since it was a new cut, it took some time for people to notice it.
But once they did – the popularity just kept growing.
While we’re at it, there are a few things that need to be mentioned in the historical sense.
Back then, most available diamond cuts were quite expensive – and many people still couldn’t afford diamond jewelry. Princess cut diamonds were the first ones that were semi-available to the “average person” without being ridiculously expensive and practically unattainable.
That’s why this diamond-cut became popular – and has continued to gain in popularity to this today.
There are more expensive options out there – but that doesn’t mean that they’re better or of higher quality than the princess cut diamonds.
Keep that in mind going forward if you’re in the market for these diamonds.
Related Read: What Is The Cheapest Cut Of Diamond?
Conclusion
There’s quite a bit of info to take in when it comes to diamonds – such as princess cut diamonds. There is a lot of history, information, and variations to take in and remember, so let’s recap.
A princess-cut diamond has its advantages and disadvantages; all diamonds do. But there are a lot of things that princess cut diamonds have that other diamonds don’t.
The clarity of these diamonds is crucial. However, you might find a princess-cut diamond with lower clarity that won’t display almost any imperfections because of the cut, and you’ll end up saving some money. Great news, right?
For a diamond that has such great influence from two amazing diamond cuts, it’s impossible to look bad on someone’s hand – especially the hand of a loved one! That’s why this diamond is quite a popular choice for engagement rings, and that’s where you’ll most likely see them.
We hope that we’ve brought you some useful information and that, if you are in the market for a ring, you just found your best candidate!
Learn More: Diamond Shapes: All Different Types of Diamond Shapes
