{"id":3670,"date":"2023-09-09T07:00:17","date_gmt":"2023-09-09T11:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/?p=3670"},"modified":"2023-09-09T14:04:00","modified_gmt":"2023-09-09T18:04:00","slug":"princess-cut-diamond-ideal-proportions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/princess-cut-diamond-ideal-proportions\/","title":{"rendered":"THE IDEAL PROPORTIONS FOR A PRINCESS CUT DIAMOND"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Ideal<\/div>\n

There are tons of articles on the ideal cut diamond<\/a>. But unfortunately they all pertain to the round cut, or brilliant cut diamond.<\/p>\n

\nIn fact, if you look at “cut<\/a>” in the 4C’s of diamonds<\/a>, you’ll see that everything is about the round stone: table depth, mm width, crown, angles, pavilion<\/strong>…<\/p>\n

It’s all ROUND.<\/h2>\n

\nThere isn’t a mention about other fancy cuts<\/strong> (fancy cuts are every other cut of diamond except the round).<\/p>\n

\nSee image below…<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\"Ideal<\/p>\n

\nThose guidelines don’t help you much if you’re buying a princess cut diamond<\/strong> (square or rectangular cut with 50-58 facets). <\/p>\n

\nI’ve had a lot of people write in over the years asking about the “standards<\/strong>” and “specifications<\/strong>” for fancy cuts like the princess cut diamond.<\/p>\n

So is there an ideal cut?<\/h2>\n

\n\"Ideal<\/p>\n

\nHow do you know if a princess cut diamond is cut well? Is it worth buying?<\/strong> Is it a crappy cut? Are you getting ripped off?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nThe truth is, there really isn’t an “exact<\/strong>” guideline for princess cuts (or any fancy cut for that matter).<\/p>\n

\nWhen it comes to princess cut diamonds, it’s not entirely about just the table and depth percentages like many people would think. There are a lot of things to take into consideration because of the shape and cutting style.<\/p>\n

\nThere are also many different cuts of princess cuts<\/strong>. The faceting on the pavilion changes.<\/p>\n

See the facet arrangement below…<\/h2>\n

\n\"Princess<\/p>\n

\nThere can be 2 chevrons, 3 chevrons, even 4 chevrons<\/strong>… The bezel on the top (next to the star and crown facets) change. It’s all different. Plus, some stones are square, some are rectangle. It all comes into play and makes it very difficult to nail down.<\/p>\n

\nLook at more examples of different princess cut diamonds below…<\/p>\n

\n\"Different<\/p>\n

\nRound stones (a.k.a. brilliant cuts<\/strong>) are easy to judge because they are all cut with the same faceting and guidelines. Plus they are symmetrical in design (which also makes them the most brilliant cut of them all).<\/p>\n

\nBut princess cuts, pear cuts, emerald cuts, and trilliant cuts (just to name a few) aren’t so lucky. They can be long, short, thick, wide, deep… Because when it comes to fancy, it’s all about “preference<\/strong>“. Some people like a longer stone. There is no “ideal<\/strong>” shape. It’s just opinion<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

\nTake a look at the different ratios of princess cuts<\/strong> and you’ll see how some are square 1.00 L x W, while some start to look more rectangular 1.10 ratio, 1.20 ratio…<\/p>\n

\n\"Princess<\/p>\n

\nOne shape really isn’t better or worse than the other<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nThe funny thing is, when most people think about princess cuts, they actually think about a square cut stone<\/strong>, when in fact, just about every princess cut on the market is NOT<\/strong> exactly square.<\/p>\n

\nLook at the measurements (listed in millimeters on a diamond report: length, width and depth<\/strong>) to see for yourself…<\/p>\n

\n\"Princess<\/p>\n

\nSome come close, but close is not exact.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nA truly square stone would be (as an example) listed as: 5.85 x 5.85<\/strong> x 4.50. <\/p>\n

\nThey aren’t exact because of the way diamond cutter’s cut the stone. They strive to maintain carat weight and quality whenever possible. So cut is often compromised<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

Ideal diamond dimensions:<\/h2>\n

\nDoing a search online for the ideal standards of princess cut diamonds<\/strong>, you’ll find a lot of controversy and confusion. Nobody can agree on a set of numbers that will accommodate every cut and shape of stone: table: 65-75%, depth: 65-75% ??? <\/p>\n

\nOr is it: <\/strong>table: 69-74%, depth: 69-74% ???<\/p>\n

\nHow about:<\/strong> table: 62-80%, depth: 63-68% ???<\/p>\n

\nIt’s all over the board.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nThe reason it’s different is simple: There are no set rules or guidelines. <\/strong><\/p>\n

GIA clearly states on their website:<\/h2>\n

“An internationally accepted system for visually evaluating the appearance of fancy-cut diamonds does not exist at this time. At GIA, research is underway to develop the basic concepts for designing and implementing such a system.” (see here<\/a>)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\nSome websites have nice little charts and graphs, others list percentages in their forums. Still others (like Blue Nile<\/a>) has “Astor ideal cuts<\/strong>“… <\/p>\n

\n\"Ideal<\/p>\n

But if you keep looking, you’ll find more.<\/h2>\n

\nI went to 10 different websites<\/strong> and got 10 different proportion ranges<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nSo I thought I’d take an average <\/strong>of them… But that got too confusing. I had to create a spreadsheet just to track the differences…<\/p>\n

\n\"AGS<\/p>\n

\nAn average is probably around 65-75% table and depth<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

But it doesn’t happen that way either…<\/h2>\n

\nAnd that’s because ideal cut diamonds are not just a couple of numbers. It also has to do with beauty, appearance, light, sparkle, and brilliance. Something that “numbers” can’t give you<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nBut jewelers like James Allen<\/a> do sell “ideal cut princess cuts<\/a>“, like so…<\/p>\n

James Allen<\/a> do sell “\"Buy<\/a><\/p>\n

So what are they going by?<\/h2>\n

\nExcellent polish and symmetry?<\/strong> Are they looking at table and depth? Angles?<\/strong><\/p>\n

For example:<\/h2>\n

\nI pull up this princess cut diamond here<\/a>. It’s GIA certified, 1.50 princess cut, IF clarity, E color, with 75% table, 74.4% depth, and it’s listed as “ideal<\/strong>“…<\/p>\n

\"150<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
CARAT WEIGHT, CLARITY, COLOR, CUT, CERTIFIED<\/strong><\/td>\nPRICE<\/strong><\/td>\nVIEW<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1.50, IF, E, IDEAL, GIA<\/strong><\/td>\n$24,930<\/strong><\/td>\nVIEW<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Example two:<\/h2>\n

\nAnd then I pull up an AGS certified princess cut<\/strong>, .70 carat, VVS2 clarity, F color, 69.3% table, 77.3 depth, ideal cut…<\/p>\n

\"70<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
CARAT WEIGHT, CLARITY, COLOR, CUT, CERTIFIED<\/strong><\/td>\nPRICE<\/strong><\/td>\nVIEW<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
.70, VVS2, F, IDEAL, AGS<\/strong><\/td>\n$3,040<\/strong><\/td>\nVIEW<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

\nSure they could go by the “ideal” listed on AGS’s diamond reports<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

But what about GIA’s???<\/h2>\n

\nWhat do they do then?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nAGS clearly states on many of their reports that a cut grade of 0 is “ideal”<\/strong>. (Do note that princess cuts are not called princess cuts on a diamond report, they are actually called “modified brilliant cuts<\/strong>“). So there must a real ideal cut then.?<\/p>\n

Right?<\/h2>\n

\nJames Allen says they strive for these standards; table: 65-75%, depth: 65-75%, polish\/symmetry: very good\/excellent…<\/p>\n

So there are some guidelines.<\/h2>\n

\n(You would think this would be public knowledge.)<\/p>\n

\nBlue Nile<\/strong>, as shown above, calls their ideal cut stones “Astor<\/a>” (used to be called “Signature Series<\/strong>“). They list their princess cut ideal range as: table: 65-74%, depth: 63-72%<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\nSo who’s right? Who’s wrong? Is there a right or wrong? <\/strong><\/p>\n

\nWith no real set standards, it’s anyone’s game. <\/p>\n

AGS ideal 0 grade.<\/h2>\n

\n\"AGS<\/p>\n

Triple 000<\/h2>\n

\nAGS has a triple 000 score that they give the best of the best diamonds. Very few diamonds in the world get 000 ratings. Triple 000 means that the diamond is the best of not only cut<\/strong>, but also color<\/strong> and clarity<\/strong>. Like so:<\/p>\n