Last updated on April 10, 2020
Diamond earrings are probably the most classic and elegant choice for women around the world. However, sometimes it is really hard to figure out what is the best cut for diamond earrings and which type you should choose from the large variety available on the market.
How to Choose Cut for Diamond Earrings?
While choosing a cut for your diamond earrings you should pay attention to two aspects: cut quality and shape.
Cut quality is very important for any diamond. The higher cut quality grade means a more proportional diamond. The more proportional a diamond, the higher its brilliance.
Cut quality is especially important for bigger diamonds. However, it’s worth mentioning that diamonds of the highest cut quality grade cost premium.
If the stones in your earrings are relatively small, you may not choose the highest cut quality diamonds, since the stones won’t be that noticeable. This way you can save some money.
In such a case you should make sure the stones have a good amount of brilliance and do not look dark.
The diamond shape is another important feature when selecting stones for your earrings.
Like cut quality, the diamond shape becomes more important when you opt for bigger stones. The shape should also flatter your face and match your style.
Choosing Round, Oval and Oval-Looking Cuts for Diamond Earrings
There is no secret that round is the most popular diamond cut. It was created to maximize the brilliance of a stone. All else being equal, earrings with round diamonds have the highest amount of sparkle.
Round diamonds are a timeless classic and they are suitable for any face shape.
Oval diamonds are quite similar to rounds in terms of brilliance, but earrings with oval stones give an additional impression of length and make your face look slimmer.
The group of oval-looking diamonds include pear, marquise and heart shapes which are modified classic oval cut.
The marquise cut is very similar to the oval cut in terms of brilliance. Since the two ends of this cut are pointed they give an even stronger impression of length and enhance the shape of your face. If you choose marquise cut diamonds, it is very important to select a good setting which will protect sharp points from chipping.
Being the hybrid of the oval and marquise cuts, the pear shape diamonds feature an oval outline and one pointed end. This a good alternative to both oval and marquise cut diamonds.
The heart-shaped diamonds look like pear cut with a cleft on the rounded side. This cut doesn’t add much length as the other cuts but looks very romantic.
Choosing Rectangular and Square-Looking Cuts for Diamond Earrings
The group of rectangular and square cuts includes princess, emerald, Asscher, radiant and cushion cut diamonds. Depending on the length-to-width ratio, the diamonds may look more or less square.
Like the round cut, the princess cut was developed to maximize the brilliance. This is a good alternative for those who prefer a lot of sparkles but round or oval shapes don’t suit them.
Emerald and Asscher cuts are a good choice for those who prefer rectangular cuts. However, you should keep in mind that these shapes were designed to highlight the clarity of the stone rather than the brilliance.
In case you would like to have a more brilliant stone that resembles the emerald cut, then the radiant cut is just a perfect option for you.
The cushion cut features a rectangular or square outline with rounded corners. It exhibits a good amount of brilliance and can be a good choice for those who prefer a square look and a lot of sparkles.
Choosing Triangular Cuts for Diamond Earrings
The most popular triangular cut for diamond earrings is the trilliant cut, also known as trillion cut. Usually, all the sides of a trilliant cut diamond are equal in length, but they can vary on case to case basis.
This cut can come both with rounded and pointed ends. In case you opt for a trillion cut diamond with sharp ends, make sure you choose a good setting that can protect the vulnerable pointed ends.
Cover image credit: De Beers
