Choose the right diamond cut, and the rest will take care of itself.
The 4 C’s: Cut, Clarity, Color, Carat.
Out of the 4, CUT MATTERS MOST!
Why? The right diamond cut plays up your diamond’s better qualities while hiding its not-as-perfect aspects. By choosing the right diamond cut you’re giving yourself the freedom to compromise on some of the other 3 C’s. Meaning, you don’t have to get all the 4 C’s totally perfect.
A good diamond cut will make it look as if you broke the bank on an all-around stunner – but only YOU will know you stayed well within budget!
Let’s go through the most popular diamond cuts to see which of the other 3 C’s (carat, clarity, color) you should spend money to flaunt, and which you can save your money on.
ROUND CUT
Spend On: Carat
- As the most popular diamond cut, everyone is familiar with a round-cut diamond’s carat weight. Bigger = more impressive.
Save On: Color
- Pair a warmer-colored diamond with a setting in similarly warm metal (like yellow or rose gold) to hide your stone’s tone.
Etched Rope Round Cut
PRINCESS CUT
Spend on: Carat
- The princess cut loses less mass than other shapes during its rough cutting. This means that carat for carat, it’s a better value for money. Going for a bit higher carat weight can make that already impressive stone look even BIGGER.
Save on: Clarity
- A princess cut’s 58 facets hide inclusions really, really well.
Channel-Set Princess Cut
EMERALD CUT
Spend on: Clarity
- The relatively few facets in an emerald cut easily reveal inclusions. Don’t skimp on clarity!
Save on: Carat
- The elongated shape of an emerald cut makes it look large for its carat weight. Choose a slightly smaller carat weight and no one will be able to tell the difference.
Triple Emerald-Cut
CUSHION CUT
Spend on: Color
- The pillow shape tends to reveal color, so make sure to go with a more colorless diamond if you’re set on white metals.
Save on: Clarity
- The crushed-ice appearance of a cushion cut hides inclusions quite well.
Split-Shank Cushion Cut
PEAR CUT
Spend on: Color
- The pointed end of the pear shape doesn’t reflect light nearly as well as the round part, so it’s more likely to reveal the stone’s true color. To avoid those ‘warmer’ yellow tones, opt for a high grade on the color scale.
Save on: Carat
- The length of a pear cut tricks the eye and seems larger than it actually is.
Laurel Cluster Pear Cut
RADIANT CUT
Spend on: Carat
- A higher carat weight shows. Going for a larger stone is worth the cost.
Save on: Clarity
- Lots of facets = lots of places for inclusions to “disappear” into.
Marquise and Radiant Cut
Our advice:
Pick which C is most important to you and spend your money on the diamond cut that highlights it. If you pick the right cut, your diamond ring will look absolutely brilliant.
Hopped up on diamond cuts? Read more below!
- Learn why carat weight isn’t that important
- Fiery princess-cut diamond engagement rings
- Bite into pear-shaped diamonds
- Rest easy with a cushion-cut diamond!
- Grab a gem of an emerald-cut diamond!
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