Not all diamond cuts are created the same when it comes to cost. The round brilliant cut, for example, costs more per carat than the princess, oval, and emerald, cuts because it uses less of the raw diamond. This means that if the size of the diamond in your engagement ring is more important to you than its form, a fancy shape will provide greater value for money than a round diamond.
Why Do Diamond Prices Vary Based On Shape?
Diamonds do not emerge from the ground perfectly cut and bright. Instead, a rough diamond is cut into a specified form by a diamond cutter. Between 20 and 60 percent of the rough stone’s initial weight is removed, based on the diamond’s precise cut.
The amount of rough diamond removed varies greatly depending on the diamond shape. The typical princess cut diamond, for example, requires roughly 80% of the raw diamond’s carat weight. This means that during the cutting process, just 20% of the raw stone is wasted.
Let’s take a look at some of the affordable diamond shapes.
Princess Cut
The princess cut is formed like an inverted pyramid and has a square surface. It gives equivalent brightness to the round brilliant cut at a substantially lower price tag owing to its special shape. The princess cut’s inexpensive cost is because of the minimal amount of raw diamond that is lost during trimming and polishing. A princess cut diamond can use up to 80 percent of the original stone, but a polished round cut diamond only uses roughly 40 percent.
Emerald Cut
Emerald cut diamonds feature a broad table surface and straight, long lines, known as “steps,” that produce stunning reflections. Even though some emerald diamonds appear in a square form, most emerald cut diamonds are rectangular. The emerald cut, like the princess cuts, makes use of a considerable portion of the rough diamond. As with lab-grown diamonds, this makes it a superb value-for-money alternative.
Cushion Cut
Cushion cut diamonds feature rounded edges and a square shape, reminiscent of a pillow. The cushion cut comes in numerous versions, all of which rely on its exact light dispersion to give an astounding amount of fire and glitter. In terms of value for money, this diamond cut is one of the greatest diamond shapes. Cushion cut diamonds are relatively inexpensive since just a small fraction of the rough diamond is lost during the trimming and polishing process.