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Princess Diamonds – The New Classic Cut

Princess cut diamonds are one of the more exquisite styles of diamond cuts. In fact, it’s one of the most popular diamond cutting styles on the market today – and for good reason. This cut incorporates a number of techniques which allow for a high level of brilliance with a unique faceting style that makes it distinctive from the more traditional round brilliant cuts. Instead, the Princess cut is typically square or rectangular. Let’s take a closer look now at the history of the Princess cut, its variants, and some important considerations to keep in mind when choosing Princess cut diamonds for your jewelry.

The History of Princess Cut Diamonds

Although the Princess cut partially derives its existence from the older, more venerable “French” cut, it did not come into being until the 1960’s. It has definitely kept pace with its competitor, the round brilliant cut, and it is continuing to grow in popularity among our clients here at Knox Jewelers. While the Princess cut may lack the long history of other types of cuts, it more than makes up for that with elegance, precision, and brilliance. No wonder it’s the second-most popular type of diamond cut on the market! Customers who have chosen this cut for their engagement ring agree that the Princess cut is one of the most elegant shapes out there today.

A Variety of Stunning Princess Cut Styles

As you might imagine, not all Princess cut diamonds are created equal. For instance, some Princess cut diamonds may have greater depth, polish, or symmetry than others. To make the process of choosing the right diamond for your Princess cut engagement ring as easy as possible, our expert jewelers here at Knox Jewelers will ensure that your ring has only the finest diamond which balances color, clarity, and depth. After all, there is no industry-wide or standardized consensus on the specific grading of cut on Princess stones, so you’ll want expert guidance in choosing the right one. We have the experience necessary for helping you to make the right choice.

Our Handcrafted Princess Cut Engagement Rings

Each and every design at Knox Jewelers is created by hand and from the ground up – none of our jewelry comes out of a factory. Our artisans and craftspeople are some of the most well-regarded experts in the industry, and we have had the privilege of designing many engagement rings for our valued clients. Be sure to have a look at some of the custom engagement rings we have designed in the past – if you’re interested in incorporating a similar design into your own Princess cut engagement ring, then we would be absolutely thrilled to create a ring that is tailored to your specific desires and ideas.

Some Important Considerations to Keep in Mind

The most important consideration to keep in mind if you’re thinking about investing in a Princess cut diamond for your jewelry is this: Although Princess cut diamonds are very beautiful, their corners tend to be less durable than you might expect due to the way the cut is made. Although we have set many Princess cut diamonds into our handmade, custom-tailored designs for our satisfied customers, we generally recommend that those customers who are looking for crisp and straight edges on their center diamond, to instead opt for a Radiant cut with a square ratio. We usually recommend this option whenever possible due to the improved stability and robustness of the resulting cut. Aside from this important consideration, the Princess cut is an excellent choice for practically any unique engagement ring!

Design Your Own Unique Engagement Ring at Knox Jewelers

Designing a unique engagement ring with our expert staff is an experience of a lifetime. We will work together with you from start to finish to create a Princess cut engagement ring that encompasses the visual and emotional motifs you want to see incorporated into it. There exists perhaps no experience more fulfilling or significant than being able to design a piece of jewelry which symbolizes the love you share with that special someone. We encourage you to get in touch with our friendly staff today and we’ll get started on the process of designing a truly significant engagement ring just for you.

Cushion Cut Engagement Rings

Cushion cut styles are in vogue and have made a sort of revival. This page is dedicated to several different styles of cushion cut engagement rings.

Click here to browse our Cushion Cut Engagement Rings

Cushion cut diamonds can have very different looks:

(1) Cushion cut diamonds come in many different shapes (outlines) ranging from rectangular to square and everything in between.

(2) Cushion cut diamonds will also have many various looks based on how rounded the corners of the stone are, making for many very unique looks.

(3) Cushion cut diamonds can have different faceting patterns which makes for a wide variety of possible looks that are all classified as ‘cushion cut’

Cushion cut diamond halo engagement rings

Our Venita design is one of our micro pave designs and features a square proportioned cushion cut diamond flanked by a micro pave diamond halo. The cushion cut is set by 4 sets of claw prongs, yielding a minimal amount of metal holding onto the stone. This stone happens to be a Cushion Brilliant and features larger facets like a Round Brilliant.

2383_1_image Cushion Cut Rings — Hand cut micro pave cushion cut halo engagement ring with double claw prongs

Another design from our hand cut micro pave collection, featuring a cushion cut center diamond with micro pave diamond halo.

2301_5_image Cushion Cut Rings — Cushion cut micro pave halo engagement ring with claw prongs

1712_2_image Cushion Cut Rings — Bezel set Cushion cut with diamond halo engagement ring

Here is a popular bezel set cushion cut design with a raised halo that allows a matching band to sit underneath.

1665_7_image Cushion Cut Rings — Bezel set cushion cut engagement ring with raised halo

Here is a custom Cushion cut design featuring micro pave, split shank, octagonal halo and custom hand made filigree. Since there is a lot going on in this design, I will post a couple photos to show the detail.

1737_1_image Cushion Cut Rings — Micro pave split shank cushion cut custom engagement ring design with hand made filigree

1737_8_image Cushion Cut Rings — Pic 2 Micro pave split shank cushion cut custom engagement ring design with hand made filigree

Here is a clean design featuring a bezel set cushion cut diamond and a diamond halo. These ‘low slung’ bezel set designs are popular with people that are concerned about a ring sticking up too high off the finger or snagging or scratching.

1688_1_image Cushion Cut Rings — Low, flush, bezel set cushion cut diamond engagement ring design with a diamond halo

1688_7_image Cushion Cut Rings — Low, flush, bezel set cushion cut diamond engagement ring design with a diamond halo Pic 2

Here is essentially the same design with a diamond pave band

786_2_image Cushion Cut Rings — Bezel set cushion cut diamond engagement ring with diamond halo & diamond pave band

Here is a cushion cut center diamond set in a micro pave, split shank, halo design.

1045_2_image Cushion Cut Rings — Cushion cut center diamond in a micro pave split shank halo design engagement ring

Here is another thin design that allows a matching band to sit perfectly flush. This cushion cut engagement ring design features a sexy double micro pave halo.

1561_2_image Cushion Cut Rings — This cushion cut engagement ring design features a sexy double micro pave halo.

1561_6_image Cushion Cut Rings — Side view

1562_1_image Cushion Cut Rings — Thin diamond pave band with diamond halo surrounding a rectangular cushion cut diamond

1562_6_image Cushion Cut Rings — Thin diamond pave band with diamond halo surrounding a rectangular cushion cut diamond Side view

Here is a beautiful cushion cut engagement ring design with half moon shape diamonds on each side. The design also has three diamond halos and filigree in the side gallery of the ring.

1060_1_image Cushion Cut Rings — Cushion cut diamond engagement ring with half moon shape diamonds

1060_5_image Cushion Cut Rings — Side view

Here is a custom bezel set version of the above design:

1815_2_image Cushion Cut Rings — Custom bezel set cushion cut and half moon shape diamond engagement ring

Side view… note the three sided pave band and gallery featuring hand made filigree & a custom butterfly element

Here is a ring with a similar three stone design, except with bezel set triangle diamonds and a trellis gallery.

1131_1_image Cushion Cut Rings — Custom bezel set cushion cut engagement ring with bezel set triangle shape diamonds

1131_7_image Cushion Cut Rings — Side view

This cushion cut diamond engagement ring features a rectangular cushion cut diamond center stone flanked by two round brilliant cut diamonds in an elegant three stone trellis design.

: Three stone cushion cut trellis engagement ring

: Three stone cushion cut trellis engagement ring Side view

This Cushion cut diamond engagement ring features a 1.00 carat center diamond. The ring has a very vintage look with hand made filigree and hand engraving adorning the elegant lines of the design. The center cushion cut diamond is highlighted by claw prongs which gives the ring a sexy, delicate look.

: Cushion cut engagement ring with claw prongs, hand engraving and hand made filigree

This cushion cut engagement ring features a sexy thin diamond band with a square cushion center stone.

: Thin diamond band with cushion cut center stone

Here is a bezel set cushion cut engagement ring design with a halo and diamond pave in the band.

More to come soon…

Clarity grades… the dirty little secret

Are all SI-1 clarity diamonds eye-clean?
Are all SI-2 clarity diamonds eye-clean?
Are all VS-2 clarity diamonds eye-clean?
Are all VS-1 clarity diamonds eye-clean?

The truth may surprise many… but the answer to all four of the above questions is, no.

Here is another thought for those considering ‘buying blindly’ from the virtual list of diamonds available on the internet.

Many consumers assume that all clarity grades are uniformly identical or at least very close, Eg. “All SI-1 clarity diamonds will be eye-clean” at least all the SI-1 diamonds from the preeminent labs.

Nothing could be further from the truth, especially in the SI grades.

SI clarity stones of the same grade can vary tremendously, from eye-clean to easily visible to the naked eye. (see photo below of three actual stones, all with a Gemological Institute of America (GIA) clarity grade of SI-1)

It is helpful to think of the clarity grades as a range, and not an exact, precise, quantifiable term.

Within these ranges of clarity there are for example, good SI-1’s, bad SI-1’s and maybe even the ugly SI-1’s. ( this analogy will hold true thru the other clarity ranges as well)

It is common sense that diamond sellers that stock diamonds will buy for their own stock the nicer of these ranges of clarities and especially the nicer (eye clean) SI’s .

With the diamond sellers that stock diamonds buying only the ‘good’ SI diamonds for their stock, this of course leaves the bad and the ugly to be sold elsewhere.

Think about it.

verical%20clarity%20shot Diamonds

On this very topic, here is an inquiry from a poster on an online diamond forum and my reply to the poster. He was asking if the SI-1 diamond he saw listed on a “virtual listing venue” was a good deal.

I’ve been looking to buy an engagement ring online, and have come to the conclusion XXXXXX.com has the best prices out there. For instance:

Price: $xxxx.xx

Code:
Stone shape: Round
Carat Weight: 0.91 carats
Cut: Ideal
Color: G
Clarity: SI1
Certificate type: GIA
Depth %: 62.8
Table %: 58.0
Symmetry: Very Good
Polish: Very Good
Girdle: Thin to Medium – Faceted
Culet: None
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 6.22 x 6.16 x 3.89 millimeters
Length-to-width ratio: 1.01

To which I replied:

Hi, Welcome to the forum.

The short answer is, if the diamond is a strong SI-1 and not overly dark or dead from being marginally deep… the stone may be well priced.

The longer answer and the reality of the situation is that diamonds are essentially priced by the marketplace and by how strictly graded any particular diamond is and of course that particular diamonds cut quality.

I will only speak to the subject of clarity, but rest assured that the same market forces will affect the desirability and saleability of any diamond with regard to the diamonds Color and make and/or overall finish.

There are varying levels of SI-1 clarity diamonds (other clarities as well) and they are all priced by the supply and demand forces of the marketplace based on how strictly graded the diamond is.

Do a little research on clarity and you will find that SI-1 stones can vary from ‘clean to the naked eye’ to having ‘easily noticeable inclusions’

The diamonds on ____ ____ and many other websites are from virtual lists, these are lists of diamonds owned by cutters and wholesalers, bear in mind that most if not all of these same diamonds are available to jewelry stores and other volume buyers of diamonds but for whatever reason have gone unsold.

Of course, the most obvious and common reason for diamonds to be rejected by expert buyers is that the diamond is not strictly graded (IE. not a strong SI-1)

Certainly, there can be quality diamonds on these virtual lists also.

However, it is common sense that the longer any one diamond stays on this list, especially if it is priced ‘competitively’ the more likely it is that this particular diamond is a reject of the expert buyers that comprise the market.

Unfortunately, there is no way for consumers to tell how long a diamond has been on the market.

Consumers do not have the beneficial market forces to help the non-experts as one would have in another marketplace such as real estate, where an overpriced piece of real estate that has been on the market for years/months raises obvious red flags.

Aaaahhh… so where do these ‘rejected’ diamonds end up?

What better venue for a seller of such a stone than to be able to sell it to a consumer, sight unseen. Think about it.

His shopping is done… she has a ring on her finger… a wholesaler has sold a diamond that experts would not buy… and yet everybody is happy ?

Yes, and it is because all diamonds are beautiful, this is especially true for diamonds sold on the internet as there are not other more beautiful diamonds to compare it to. Even diamonds with noticeable imperfections in say, 3% of the visible area of the diamond may sparkle beautifully in the other 97 % of the diamond.

So… the diamond now has a happy home due to the above reason, but not without considerable help from the cognitive dissonance (the tendency in human nature to rationalize bad decisions) making this person think that his SI-1 diamond is the same as any other SI-1 diamond or that he has somehow found the deal of the century.

Speaking of which, there appears to be no shortage of people that seem to think they can swim with the sharks and out smart this ‘market place’ comprised of diamond buying experts and corporations that trade in diamonds for a living.

Hmmm? That last paragraph actually has the making of another article.

Brian Knox
Visit our website here: www.knoxjewelers.biz