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 |