Princess cut
Like the brilliant, the princess cut is a very classical choice. It is a popular alternative to the round brilliant cut. Both have a high acceptance for solitary rings. Most women choose between those two cuts.
Characteristics of the princess cut
The facets on the bottom form a star with four rays, the facets coming from the corners spread fan-like into the middle of the stone, creating the shape of a cross. The number of facets can vary greatly, ranging from the popular 58 facets to stones with up to 146 facets.
As raw diamonds have a natural octahedron form – two pyramids joined at the base – the princess cut wastes much less material than the brilliant cut (20% compared to 50%). The sophisticated design of the facets makes impurities less visible.
Princess cut diamonds should have enclosed edges and corners, as they are easily damaged.
