The Return of the Fancy Cut Diamond

Round cut diamonds still dominate the market and aren’t going anywhere soon, but fancy cuts have certainly been on the rise recently. Fancy cut diamonds are essentially any diamond that is not cut as a Round. “Fancies” have been featured more frequently from the red carpet to magazine covers, perhaps none more recently famous than Mariah Carey’s 35 carat (!) Emerald Cut from her January 2016 engagement. Celebrities frequently buck the trend in the jewelry industry, and fancy cut engagement rings have certainly been more abundant of late. In today’s age, we’ve never been more connected, and with the use of social media, we have never had more access to the pulse of fashion than we do now!
Types of Diamond Cuts

The Return of the Fancy Cut Diamond

Round cut diamonds still dominate the market and aren’t going anywhere soon, but fancy cuts have certainly been on the rise recently. Fancy cut diamonds are essentially any diamond that is not cut as a Round. “Fancies” have been featured more frequently from the red carpet to magazine covers, perhaps none more recently famous than Mariah Carey’s 35 carat (!) Emerald Cut from her January 2016 engagement. Celebrities frequently buck the trend in the jewelry industry, and fancy cut engagement rings have certainly been more abundant of late. In today’s age, we’ve never been more connected, and with the use of social media, we have never had more access to the pulse of fashion than we do now!

Today’s consumer is geared toward diamonds that are customizable and tailored to their taste. Further, the desire to be different from peers and the previous generation is another major contributor to the rise of fancies. Fancy cut diamonds give consumers the option to choose a stone that reflects their unique personality, so it makes sense that fancy cuts are gaining popularity in this age of personalization, custom and unconventional engagement rings.

Let’s take a look at a couple of the most popular fancy cuts today:

The Emerald Cut-Perhaps the most popular fancy recently, the emerald is both classic and recognizable. The unique look of the emerald cut diamond is created by the step cuts of its pavilion and its large, open table. As opposed to the sparkle of a round cut, the facets create “hall of mirrors” effect within the stone.

The Cushion Cut- The cushion cut diamond (once referred to as old mine cut) combines a square cut with rounded corners, much like a pillow (hence the name). This classic cut has been around for almost 200 years, and for the first century the cushion cut was the “default” cut. While cushions don’t sparkle quite like a round cut, the “fire” or the bright white light reflected are often better displayed on a cushion.

The Oval Cut- the oval is an ideal choice for somebody who likes the look of a round diamond, but wants something more unique. The oval is generally a modified round brilliant cut. Oval diamonds have the added advantage of an oblong shape, which can create the illusion of greater size. The slender shape can also make the finger of the wearer appear longer and slimmer, an often desired effect.

Everyone falls in love with certain shapes that become an important part of their own personal style. These 3 styles are great choices to consider when sculpting your next piece of jewelry!