A Guide to Buying Emerald Cut Diamonds

Best Engagement Rings

Rare and distinctive, emerald cut diamonds evoke strength and elegance with a touch of modern tradition. The dramatic appearance of emerald cut signifies the confidence of its wearer. Brides, who are fond of modern designs, admire these diamonds for their quality.

An emerald cut diamond is generally rectangular in shape. However, a few of them also come across with a square shape. Each piece consists of a number of rows with stepped facets on its crown as well as the pavilion. These facets form a parallel line with the girdle. A diamond with this kind of cut may either have 57 or 58 facets.

What Makes an Emerald Cut Diamond so Special?

The brilliant “hall of mirrors” effect which is associated with emerald cut diamonds occur due to the arrangement of its facets – they constitute a concentric alignment. Due to the brilliant sparkle displayed by the diamond when a light falls on its surface, a ring which has this diamond is considered as one of the best engagement rings.

Interestingly, most shoppers confuse an emerald cut diamond for radiant cut diamonds or Asscher diamonds. While the former has some resemblance with emerald cut diamonds in terms of its shape, the square shape of the latter puts it in a different league altogether.

Tips to Buy an Emerald Cut Diamond

The standards of diamonds may vary from one another. An emerald cut diamond is no exception to this rule. For best results, you should go according to your personal tastes and preferences. Here are some useful tips for buying an emerald cut diamond.

• Length, Breadth and Depth: The length to width ratio of an emerald cut can be determined by dividing its length by its width. Owing to this ratio, a diamond, which belongs to this category, may either take a rectangular shape or a square shape. The recommended ratio is 1.4 -1.55. The depth percentage indicates the dexterity of these diamonds in reflecting the light falling on its surface. The preferred depth percentage is 60%-70%.
• Clarity Grade: One of the highlights of an emerald cut diamond is that it involves facets that are long and open. As a result, it is not conducive to concealing the inclusions. Thus it is strongly recommended to ensure that you buy a diamond which is VVS1 or a higher clarity grade.
• Cut Grade: The GIA and the AGS certificates only assign grading on the polish and symmetry of these diamonds without a word about cut grades of emerald shaped diamonds in particular. Thus, you should go for the one which has good polish and symmetry grades.
• Color Grade: Gemological associations value colorless diamonds more than the colored ones. You could go for D, E, F diamond if you are looking for colorless diamonds, whereas G or H diamonds are ideal if you are looking for the color variants.
• Carat Weight: You would generally find a wide range of variations as you go from a diamond with one carat grade to another. A sensible thing to do in this regard would be to focus on the polish, symmetry and proportions within your desired carat range.

With the above considerations in mind, you will be able to get the best emerald cut diamond that your money can buy. These considerations are your best bet to get good value for money. For the best engagement rings with emerald shaped diamonds or other diamonds, The Diamond Art is a one-stop destination.