Diamond Buying Guide Chart For Every Shape

Shape is truly an important factor when buying a diamond. The contours and outlines of a diamond’s shape play a major role in its unique beauty. With so many shapes to choose from, it is essential to have a diamond buying guide chart.

When searching for the perfect diamond shape that meets your specific preferences and budget, there are a few diamond proportions and terms to understand.

Diamond proportions refer to the stone’s dimensions and facet angles, as well as the relationship between them, according to the EGL USA Gemological Laboratory.

Diamond Buying Guide Chart Elements

Having all these diamond shape proportions in mind prior to purchase will make your diamond buying experience more enjoyable, and one of value.

Table Percentage

Table percentage of a diamond is one of the most important factors in the diamond buying guide chart. The table is essentially the flat facet, or surface of a diamond.

It is the largest facet, and thus plays a vital role in the brilliance and light behavior of a diamond. The table facet refracts light that enters the diamond and emits light reflected from the pavilion facets.

The table percentage of a diamond is calculated by dividing the size of the table with the girdle diameter.

Combined, the depth and table percentages of a diamond play a major role on the stone’s beauty, suggests Beyond4Cs.

Depth Percentage

The depth percentage of a diamond is simply its height measured in millimeters from culet to table divided by the width of the diamond. The depth percentage of a diamond often hints to its brilliance and value.

There are two depth measurements found on a diamond’s grading report. The measurement from culet to table, and the percentage of depth and width should both be found on any trusted third party gemological laboratory report.

Ideal depth percentage often varies, depending on a diamond’s shape.

For example, the excellent grade depth percentage for a round cut is between 59 and 62 percent. But an excellent grade depth percentage for an asscher cut diamond is between 61 and 67 percent.

Cut and Color Advice for a Pear Diamond Engagement Ring

The distinctive shape of the pear diamond means that you must pay extra close attention to issues of cut, shape ratios, and color. The point of the pear diamond has a tendency to appear darker, so selecting a stone with excellent color ratings is key to ensure your ring is as beautiful as it can be.

Be aware that the pear shape is prone to two issues: the “bow-tie” effect and “high” or “uneven” shoulders. The bow-tie effect is when the stone possesses an obvious dark spot that resembles a bow tie because of its cut and the shadows the light casts. If the non-pointed end of the pear diamond doesn’t have a round soft arc, it is likely that it has high or uneven shoulders, which can make the stone more vulnerable to chipping and reduces its value.

Cut and Color Advice for a Pear Diamond Engagement Ring

Fluorescence

Fluorescence is a diamond's slight glow under ultraviolet (UV) light. It is estimated that 30 percent of all diamonds have some degree of fluorescence. This makes it an important element of the diamond buying guide chart.

Fluorescence can be a diamond buyer’s best friend in some cases. For example, a diamond with a colorless grade of D to F that has fluorescence can be priced 15 percent less.

According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), In the GIA Fluorescence Study, it was found that the average person could not make a distinction between a diamond with fluorescence and a diamond without.

The effect of fluorescence is commonly only visible to a professional jeweler using a UV light source too. This may prove to be a valuable diamond purchasing tactic when selecting color grade.

Understanding diamond proportions and how they may affect your bottom line as a buyer is certainly important. There are a variety of factors involved in analyzing diamonds prior to purchase, and these are simply a few of the most essential.

When deciding on the perfect diamond shape, consider these factors to make your diamond buying experience more exciting and less stressful. After all, diamonds are often a symbol of love and devotion. The experience should be enjoyable.