| Diamonds are loved the world over for their fiery | | | | that help protect the stones from chipping. The |
| brilliance. For centuries they have been symbols of | | | | Princess cut diamond has pointed corners, so if |
| love and prosperity. Many young girls eagerly | | | | you are fortunate enough to own one, be very |
| await having a diamond ring on their hands. They | | | | careful with it. |
| have adorned the crowns of Kings and Queens. | | | | The number of facets can also influence the price |
| They come in many shapes and sizes and are | | | | of the diamonds. The facets allow the brilliance of |
| very costly to buy. Despite the high price they | | | | the diamond to shine through. Light reflects off of |
| come with, people still vie to own them. | | | | them, giving the diamond their sparkling |
| One of the things that differentiate one diamond | | | | appearance. There are 58 facets in the round cut |
| from another is the cut of the stone. Diamonds | | | | brilliant stone. If the culet or bottom facet is left |
| are cut into different shapes from raw crystals. | | | | out, it will have 57 facets. |
| Facets are cut into the top and they are then | | | | There are other shapes of diamond, such as the |
| polished, so that their brilliance can be seen. There | | | | emerald cut. If it is cut from a clear stone, it |
| are many cuts of diamonds, some more | | | | makes an exceptional polished gem. Much like its |
| expensive than others. The art of cutting them | | | | name suggests, the stone is cut in a rectangular |
| has graduated from people with simple tools to | | | | shape and its facets are long and flat. |
| state of the art techniques. As time went on, | | | | A unique diamond is the Asscher. It's a patented |
| unique cuts began to emerge. Some of them | | | | stone that appears to have a spider web in the |
| even patented. Two such diamonds are the | | | | top. It is similar to the emerald shape, but it is |
| Asscher and the Princess diamonds. They both | | | | square. |
| have a square cut, but their facets are | | | | The shapes don't stop there. There is the oval |
| completely different. | | | | shaped diamond that comes in the shape that its |
| How the diamond will be cut depends on the | | | | name describes. The marquis is a highly faceted |
| crystal formation that they come from. A round | | | | diamond, with a long flat cut. This type of cut will |
| brilliant diamond comes from a formation that has | | | | allow the maximum carat weight to be retained. |
| an octahedron shape. Marquis and oval diamonds | | | | There is also the pear or tear shaped diamond. |
| are derived from formations that have a macle | | | | There are many other shapes of diamonds, many |
| shape. | | | | of them are custom. You get see them in the |
| A common misconception is that diamonds don't | | | | shapes of butterflies, or hearts or just about |
| chip or become scratched. This is not the case; | | | | anything you can imagine. Whatever the shape, |
| so many jewelers take that into consideration. | | | | everybody wants one. |
| Square cut diamonds can have rounded edges | | | | |