Princess-cut diamond rings have been classic pieces of jewelry for hundreds of years. These rings are not just classic pieces of jewelry, they're also investments. Diamonds have historically held their value throughout economic upheavals and government regime changes and are often seen as a hedge against inflation.
Purchasing a princess-cut diamond ring can be a bit complicated, however. Choosing a ring will be a matter of looking for not just what is stylish or popular, but also what will hold its value.
What is a Princess-Cut Diamond?
Of course, before deciding to invest in this type of jewelry, it's important to know what exactly an investor is buying. A princess cut is also known as a square-cut diamond, but the truth is that the style actually has a few differences from actual square-cut diamonds. Square cuts are one of the oldest cuts of diamonds; the style has been around for hundreds of years. This cut was relatively simple to make. In an era before modern gem cutting equipment, shapes for gems had relatively few facets.
Starting in the 1960s, however, gem cutting equipment became more modernized. The introduction of electric grinding wheels allowed jewelers to create much more complicated shapes and designs. One of the first "cuts" that was developed at that time was the French cut, which later on became known as the princess cut, a shape that was based on a square cut, but one that has especially designed facets that maximize the way light is reflected and refracted.
Are Princess-Cut Diamonds Popular?
When the cut was first introduced, it immediately became so popular that nearly every jeweler learned how to make it. In truth, versions of the princess cut or square cut have been around for centuries because the cut follows the natural shape of a diamond. When diamonds are mined, the stones tend to be in an octahedral pattern due to the formation of the carbon atoms. Square-cut diamonds allow the jeweler to maximize the amount of stone that can be saved from the raw stone, making it an extremely popular cut among jewelers.
Princess-cut diamonds were one of the first cuts that was designed to maximize the way light reflected back into the eye, making it incredibly popular when it was first introduced. Within a few years, however, a number of other cuts were introduced that had similar light refracting qualities. Today, there are hundreds of styles of diamonds, but princess cuts are offered by nearly every jeweler. Estimates have put the number of princess-cut diamond rings currently in the world at somewhere between ten to twenty percent of all diamonds.
Like all styles, princess-cut diamonds go through seasons of more and less popularity. When a new style comes onto the market, it is common for customers to flock to a new shape. Over time, however, many people choose princess cuts as the shape they want for jewelry that has special meaning to them.
This classic cut is ideal for timeless pieces and pieces that will be worn every day because it goes with nearly everything. It's not an ostentatious or distracting cut, but one that will go as well with blue jeans as an evening gown. The classic cut is also timeless, it can be passed down to future generations and worn for centuries.
Are Princess-Cut Diamonds Cheaper Than Round Diamonds?
Princess-cut diamonds tend to be one of the most efficient cuts. That is, princess-cut diamonds are usually able to utilize more of the diamond than other cuts because "raw" or uncut diamonds tend to have a cubical shape. A princess cut is therefore able to use most of the uncut diamond and leave a relatively small amount as waste.
A round diamond, on the other hand, tends to leave larger amounts of waste. That means that a jeweler either has to use more raw diamond to create a round cut, or the finished product will have a smaller carat weight than a princess-cut diamond. Furthermore, princess-cut diamonds tend to "fit together" better when cutting one large diamond into multiple pieces. Because most diamonds in their natural state already have sharp edges, it is often possible to fit several princess-cut diamonds into a single stone, whereas it may only be possible to get one or two round or other specialty cuts. The overall amount of labor is roughly the same, however.
The result is that it's often possible for a consumer to get a larger diamond by carat weight with a princess cut than with a round cut stone. When buying directly from a jeweler, this can mean that it is possible to get a larger stone for less money, or it may be possible to save money on a stone by buying a smaller princess-cut stone of the same weight as a smaller round stone.
Keep in mind that the sizes we're referring to are carat weight. It is possible to cut a diamond so that it is shallow, essentially giving it the appearance of a larger stone if it is set correctly. Princess-cut stones tend to look larger than round-cut stones of similar weight because of this. It is easier to cut a box shape into a shallow but wide design than it is to cut a round shape.
For this reason, many people think that they are buying a much larger stone than they actually are when they opt for a princess cut. However, be aware that when jewelry is appraised, there is a lot of weight given to the actual size of the stone. This means that on the resale market, it may be possible to find princess and round cut diamonds priced very similarly to each other.
How to Choose the Best Diamond for a Princess-Cut Engagement Ring?
Choosing the right diamond for an engagement ring or other significant piece of jewelry is usually a matter of evaluating your budget, then choosing the best quality stone available. Gemstones are evaluated on four different factors; cut, color, clarity, and carat weight.
When comparing princess-cut diamonds, quality and clarity will likely be the most important factors. Fortunately, a princess cut is designed to enhance the natural beauty of a stone. If done right, it should refract the light entering the stone back into the eye of the beholder. This is what actually gives a diamond its sparkle.
The highest quality princess diamonds will be absolutely clear with no extraneous minerals in the diamond. In the industry, these mineral deposits are known as inclusions, and will often look like a scratch or fissure in the stone. Low quality diamonds may have several small inclusions or even one or more large inclusions. It is possible to see these marks in low quality diamonds, and they can bring down the price of a stone significantly.
There is a professional rating system for diamonds in which a jeweler will grade each stone on the number and type of these inclusions. Be aware, however, that some inclusions are so small that they cannot be seen without the help of a magnifying glass. Furthermore, a skilled jeweler is often able to cut a stone in such a way that the inclusions become less noticeable.
For the average consumer, this means that there is the possibility to save money by looking for a stone that seems perfect to them, but that might not be rated as flawless. Often, it makes a lot of sense to save money on a stone with one or two microscopic inclusions than to spend the extra money on a flawless stone. A slight downgrade in quality can also mean being able to spend more on a bigger stone.
Finally, consider the color of the stone. For a piece of jewelry that is going to be worn every day, such as an engagement ring, it typically makes the most sense to select a clear or white diamond. This color will match with everything, and it looks great in almost any setting. For a ring that won't be worn every day, however, a colored diamond might be preferred. Carefully consider how the ring will be worn before making this decision.
Finally, consider the size of the hand that the ring will be worn on. A diamond that is too large on a small hand or too small on a large hand won't look very good. If budget is an issue, talk to the jeweler about different types of settings that can enhance the size of the ring.
What Setting Style Should I Choose for a Princess-Cut Diamond?
For a classic piece of jewelry, many shops will recommend choosing a simple and classic setting. This ensures that the piece can be worn for years to come and even be handed down to other generations. The most important thing about choosing a setting, however, is that the customer likes it. If you want a non-traditional setting, then choose one. This is a piece of jewelry that you will likely wear every day and look at for the rest of your life. Pick out what you like. Contact us at Occasions Fine Jewelry & Gifts in Midland, TX today!
Purchasing a princess-cut diamond ring can be a bit complicated, however. Choosing a ring will be a matter of looking for not just what is stylish or popular, but also what will hold its value.
What is a Princess-Cut Diamond?
Of course, before deciding to invest in this type of jewelry, it's important to know what exactly an investor is buying. A princess cut is also known as a square-cut diamond, but the truth is that the style actually has a few differences from actual square-cut diamonds. Square cuts are one of the oldest cuts of diamonds; the style has been around for hundreds of years. This cut was relatively simple to make. In an era before modern gem cutting equipment, shapes for gems had relatively few facets.
Starting in the 1960s, however, gem cutting equipment became more modernized. The introduction of electric grinding wheels allowed jewelers to create much more complicated shapes and designs. One of the first "cuts" that was developed at that time was the French cut, which later on became known as the princess cut, a shape that was based on a square cut, but one that has especially designed facets that maximize the way light is reflected and refracted.
Are Princess-Cut Diamonds Popular?
When the cut was first introduced, it immediately became so popular that nearly every jeweler learned how to make it. In truth, versions of the princess cut or square cut have been around for centuries because the cut follows the natural shape of a diamond. When diamonds are mined, the stones tend to be in an octahedral pattern due to the formation of the carbon atoms. Square-cut diamonds allow the jeweler to maximize the amount of stone that can be saved from the raw stone, making it an extremely popular cut among jewelers.
Princess-cut diamonds were one of the first cuts that was designed to maximize the way light reflected back into the eye, making it incredibly popular when it was first introduced. Within a few years, however, a number of other cuts were introduced that had similar light refracting qualities. Today, there are hundreds of styles of diamonds, but princess cuts are offered by nearly every jeweler. Estimates have put the number of princess-cut diamond rings currently in the world at somewhere between ten to twenty percent of all diamonds.
Like all styles, princess-cut diamonds go through seasons of more and less popularity. When a new style comes onto the market, it is common for customers to flock to a new shape. Over time, however, many people choose princess cuts as the shape they want for jewelry that has special meaning to them.
This classic cut is ideal for timeless pieces and pieces that will be worn every day because it goes with nearly everything. It's not an ostentatious or distracting cut, but one that will go as well with blue jeans as an evening gown. The classic cut is also timeless, it can be passed down to future generations and worn for centuries.
Are Princess-Cut Diamonds Cheaper Than Round Diamonds?
Princess-cut diamonds tend to be one of the most efficient cuts. That is, princess-cut diamonds are usually able to utilize more of the diamond than other cuts because "raw" or uncut diamonds tend to have a cubical shape. A princess cut is therefore able to use most of the uncut diamond and leave a relatively small amount as waste.
A round diamond, on the other hand, tends to leave larger amounts of waste. That means that a jeweler either has to use more raw diamond to create a round cut, or the finished product will have a smaller carat weight than a princess-cut diamond. Furthermore, princess-cut diamonds tend to "fit together" better when cutting one large diamond into multiple pieces. Because most diamonds in their natural state already have sharp edges, it is often possible to fit several princess-cut diamonds into a single stone, whereas it may only be possible to get one or two round or other specialty cuts. The overall amount of labor is roughly the same, however.
The result is that it's often possible for a consumer to get a larger diamond by carat weight with a princess cut than with a round cut stone. When buying directly from a jeweler, this can mean that it is possible to get a larger stone for less money, or it may be possible to save money on a stone by buying a smaller princess-cut stone of the same weight as a smaller round stone.
Keep in mind that the sizes we're referring to are carat weight. It is possible to cut a diamond so that it is shallow, essentially giving it the appearance of a larger stone if it is set correctly. Princess-cut stones tend to look larger than round-cut stones of similar weight because of this. It is easier to cut a box shape into a shallow but wide design than it is to cut a round shape.
For this reason, many people think that they are buying a much larger stone than they actually are when they opt for a princess cut. However, be aware that when jewelry is appraised, there is a lot of weight given to the actual size of the stone. This means that on the resale market, it may be possible to find princess and round cut diamonds priced very similarly to each other.
How to Choose the Best Diamond for a Princess-Cut Engagement Ring?
Choosing the right diamond for an engagement ring or other significant piece of jewelry is usually a matter of evaluating your budget, then choosing the best quality stone available. Gemstones are evaluated on four different factors; cut, color, clarity, and carat weight.
When comparing princess-cut diamonds, quality and clarity will likely be the most important factors. Fortunately, a princess cut is designed to enhance the natural beauty of a stone. If done right, it should refract the light entering the stone back into the eye of the beholder. This is what actually gives a diamond its sparkle.
The highest quality princess diamonds will be absolutely clear with no extraneous minerals in the diamond. In the industry, these mineral deposits are known as inclusions, and will often look like a scratch or fissure in the stone. Low quality diamonds may have several small inclusions or even one or more large inclusions. It is possible to see these marks in low quality diamonds, and they can bring down the price of a stone significantly.
There is a professional rating system for diamonds in which a jeweler will grade each stone on the number and type of these inclusions. Be aware, however, that some inclusions are so small that they cannot be seen without the help of a magnifying glass. Furthermore, a skilled jeweler is often able to cut a stone in such a way that the inclusions become less noticeable.
For the average consumer, this means that there is the possibility to save money by looking for a stone that seems perfect to them, but that might not be rated as flawless. Often, it makes a lot of sense to save money on a stone with one or two microscopic inclusions than to spend the extra money on a flawless stone. A slight downgrade in quality can also mean being able to spend more on a bigger stone.
Finally, consider the color of the stone. For a piece of jewelry that is going to be worn every day, such as an engagement ring, it typically makes the most sense to select a clear or white diamond. This color will match with everything, and it looks great in almost any setting. For a ring that won't be worn every day, however, a colored diamond might be preferred. Carefully consider how the ring will be worn before making this decision.
Finally, consider the size of the hand that the ring will be worn on. A diamond that is too large on a small hand or too small on a large hand won't look very good. If budget is an issue, talk to the jeweler about different types of settings that can enhance the size of the ring.
What Setting Style Should I Choose for a Princess-Cut Diamond?
For a classic piece of jewelry, many shops will recommend choosing a simple and classic setting. This ensures that the piece can be worn for years to come and even be handed down to other generations. The most important thing about choosing a setting, however, is that the customer likes it. If you want a non-traditional setting, then choose one. This is a piece of jewelry that you will likely wear every day and look at for the rest of your life. Pick out what you like. Contact us at Occasions Fine Jewelry & Gifts in Midland, TX today!