Which Diamond Cut Sparkles the Most?

Why do we love Diamonds so much? Hello, sparkle! A dazzling rock is the topic of conversation, a bonafied attention grabber and adds instant glitz to a ring setting.

That’s because diamonds are notorious for their stunning brilliance. When light hits a diamond, it reflects through the myriad of facets to emit an eye-catching sparkle. It’s easy to see why diamonds are iconized as a prized jewel of pop culture.

However, not all diamonds are created equal. So, what makes certain diamonds sparkle more than others? In this article, we’re shining the light on a crucial factor of diamond sparkle: cut. With so many different diamond cuts to choose from: pear, princess, round brilliant, heart, emerald, and more, which is the best diamond cut for sparkle?

Allow us to illuminate the details! Below are the various diamond cuts in descending order from most brilliant to least.

Understanding Diamond Sparkle

Buyers need to understand how and why a diamond sparkles in order to appreciate the features that make some shapes the best choices to set off these white flashes of light. Aside from their unique crystal structure, diamonds sparkle because of their facets, which are the flat surfaces cut into the surface of the stone. Facets act like mirrors, bouncing light to create that magical twinkle that so distinctively defines diamonds as we know them. Some facets are perfect mirrors, sending back brilliant white light. These facets are small and numerous. Others are fewer, larger, and more like prisms, splitting the light into different colors.

Generally speaking, the more facets cut within the stone, the more it will sparkle. There are actually several cuts of diamonds that were designed to optimize the sensational sparkle that wearers hold so dear.

Exceptionally Brilliant Diamond Cuts

While these unique shapes depart from the traditional round, they retain similar cutting patterns. These diamond cuts are great options for those in the market for a super sparkly diamond that has a more unique shape than a round. Additionally, these cuts will also be available at a lower price point than the round cut. Here’s a look at three exceptionally brilliant diamond cuts:

·         Oval - An oval cut is more oblong than a traditional around, but still retains a brilliant sparkle. Additional benefits of an oval cut diamond are that they are budget-friendly, look larger than a round, and are a rare and unique shape.

·         Marquise - Not only is the marquise the oldest diamond cut, but it’s actually one of the most unique shapes. As a shows topping hybrid between the pear and oval cuts, the marquise is sure to turn heads with its brilliant sparkle.

·         Pear - Containing the same amount of facets as the round brilliant, pear diamond cuts reflect a generous amount of light, so you can expect a stunning sparkle from this cut! How does a diamond's

 Shape affects its brilliance or sparkle?

When light shines on a diamond, it's reflected off of the diamond's surfaces, known as facets, before reflecting back out in the form of brilliance, or sparkle. Each diamond cut has a unique facet pattern which gives the shapes their unique identities. Since the light has to bounce off of the facets before exiting the stone, these different facet patterns give each shape a unique brilliance as well.

It's important to know that although each diamond shape has a unique brilliance associated with it, the brilliance of an individual stone is also determined by the quality of the cut. The cut is based on how accurate the diamond's proportions are in comparison to the ideal measurements for a given diamond cut and it can severely alter the brilliance of a diamond.

So, just because the round brilliant diamond is the most brilliant doesn't mean all round brilliant diamonds will always shine bright.  The round stone must still be cut well in order to earn the top spot on this list. 

Which Diamond Cuts Are Brilliant?

Now we’re entering middle tier diamond cuts for sparkle. In this category, there are four cuts that generate a good amount of brilliance. While they won’t sparkle as much as any of the diamonds above, they have intriguing selling points that make them excellent candidates for engagement rings.

Brilliant diamond cuts include Cushion, Radiant, Asscher and Emerald. Looking at the top of the Asscher and Emerald diamond cuts, you’ll notice some similarities in the way the diamonds are cut. That’s because they are defined as “step cuts,” meaning they have long, dramatic facets around the diamond. While these diamonds have a significantly dimmed sparkle, they create a unique visual effect. When light hits the diamond, it looks like a hall of mirrors. If sparkle isn’t your number one priority, these cuts offer a fancy and unique alternative.

Which Diamond Cut Has the Least Amount of Sparkle?

If you’re set on sparkle, skip the Baguette cut which is an uncommon shape featuring the step cut. Compared to a round brilliant, the baguette will exhibit less than half the amount of sparkle. As such, Baguette cut diamonds make great accent stones around a centerstone, or on a wedding band to accentuate the sparkle of your engagement ring diamond.

What Other Factors Affect Diamond Sparkle?

While a diamond’s cut is an important factor regarding sparkle, there are additional things to consider. For example, a high quality cut will sparkle more than a lower quality one. That’s why it’s vital to purchase diamonds from reputable vendors who prioritize superior craftsmanship. An inexperienced cutter can misalign the facets which will limit the amount of brilliance in the diamond.

If you see a dark strip across the center of a pear,marquise or oval diamond, known as the “bow-tie” you can guarantee a dimmer sparkle is in store. The bow-tie effect occurs as a result of a poor diamond cut. Excellent cuts exude beautiful spacing and excellent balance, symmetry and proportion.