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History of the Princess Cut Diamond
Diamonds became popular as ornaments in jewelry in the 1400's and the
different techniques and styles of diamond cuts such as the Princess Cut
Diamond were gradually developed over many years. The Princess style is
a relatively new shape which was developed in the 1970's. It was
originally patented as the Quadrillion diamond. A diamond cutter named
Henry Grossbard had developed the Radiant cut which was a rectangular
cut that lost only 40% of a rough diamond during the cutting process.
This style was further enhanced when diamond cutters realized that a
different square style cut (the Princess) would lose only 20% of a rough
diamond during the cutting process.
Description of the Princess Cut Diamond
The description of an Princess Cut Diamond is a square, or rectangular,
shaped brilliant cut with sharp (un-cropped) corners. The "face-up"
shape of the princess cut has a profile that is similar to an inverted
pyramid with four beveled sides. The clean modern lines of the Princess
cut appeal to those who appreciate symmetry and precision.
Princess Style - Fancy Cut Diamonds
Fancy cut stones, such as
Emerald, Marquise, Heart, Oval, Pear and Princess
cuts are all ways of cutting a stone to maximize the carat weight. A
rough diamond which might only yield a half carat in a Brilliant Cut
might yield another 50% if cut into the Princess shape. Fancy cuts, such
as the Princess cut, allow the cutter to use the best attributes of the
rough diamond and eliminate inclusions and blemishes. Popular fancy cuts
include the "Baguette" (French for a small rod), "Marquise" or "Navette" (little
boat), "Princess Cut" aka Square Brilliant Cut, "Heart", "Briolette" (a
form of Rose cut), Pear (teardrop), and the Trillion which is triangular
in shape.
Diamonds are Forever...
An Impartial Guide to Diamonds
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