There is no such thing as a diamond that is square. There are a lot of square-shaped diamonds. However, if you ask a diamond jeweller for a square diamond, the most likely response is, "What type?"
There are square-squares, round squares, octagonal squares, and rectangular squares - it's enough to make you doubt your grasp of the term'square.' Furthermore, none of these square diamond cuts are referred to as "Square Cut Diamonds." It'd be far too simple.
Don't be put off by this, though. As we'll see, square diamonds are fascinating. Knowing what you're looking at could just be useful. So, with that in mind, here's our list of square, square-ish, square-curious, and not-square-but-could-be diamond forms.
But first, consider this:
What Are the Features of Square?
Round brilliant diamonds account for almost 75% of all diamonds sold. This implies that choosing a square diamond style will immediately set you apart from the crowd. Furthermore, whereas there is only one form of a round diamond, there are at least three different square diamonds - five if diamond shapes with square potential are included. And, contrary to popular belief, each of these five square-shaped diamonds has a distinct appearance, feel, and personality. It's a lot of fun to pick a diamond shape that matches your or your loved one's personality.
When it comes to placement, square diamonds are more adaptable than round diamonds. You can see what I mean by turning a round diamond 45 degrees. A straightforward approach to creating a distinctive look is to set a square diamond at a 45-degree angle on a ring or pair of earrings. Finally, fancy square-shaped diamonds are often less expensive than Round Brilliant diamonds, carat for carat. As a result, going square allows you to save money or, better yet, purchase a larger stone!
The last question remaining is which square form diamond you will select.
Beautiful and refined, with sharp edges to catch a man's eye.
The Princess Cut is the only one with genuine corners, making it the only true square of the bunch. This form is sharp and cool, yet it sparkles just as much as a Round because to the Brilliant cut. It's the perfect pick for someone who wants a modern style with a lot of sparkle.
Diamond Registry Tip: Because the Princess cut's appearance is crisp perfection, search for a diamond that is as near to square as possible - that is, one with a length to width ratio of 0.98 to 1.02, ideally 1.00.
Me? Square? I'm plainly octagonal, dahling.
Take a look at the Asscher for something a little more 'avant-garde.' It's the only diamond shape with a designer label, for starters. The good news is that the design isn't patented anymore, so you won't have to pay a premium for it.
With step-cut design that provides a classic, geometric appearance, Asscher diamonds have a powerful aesthetic. The corners of the stone are severely cut, giving it an almost-octagonal look. This is a diamond that is sure to turn heads.
Diamond Registry Tip: Choose a setting that won't cover your Asscher's corners to show it out to its full potential (or lack of them).
The Cushion cut transforms a hard square into a wonderful, soft, pillowy....er, cushion. It has a uniquely soft look that no other diamond shape can match since the corners are rounded, and the sides are somewhat curled. It almost feels incorrect to refer to it as square. The Cushion cut exudes romance and loveliness in every detail, which is why it's still popular more than a century after it originally appeared.
Diamond Registry Tip: Because the Cushion cut has wide facets, traces of color and inclusions stand out more than normal, so pick excellent color and clarity grades to achieve a flawless appearance.
While Princess, Asscher, and Cushion cuts are the only 'real' square diamond shapes, Emerald and Radiant cuts are square enough that excluding them would be a crime against diamonds...
Please, no autographs - Ms Radiant is at work.
This is a diamond that lights up the room, as the name implies. You get the best of both worlds with a Radiant cut: a clean, stylish step-cut layered with a brilliant Brilliant cut. What's the end result? More multi-faceted than Meryl Streep, a show-stopping, big-hitting, Broadway-bound star of a diamond. Choose a Radiant cut that is square rather than rectangular, and you'll have a true winner.
Diamond Registry Tip: Because each stone has so many facets, color can intensify in the Radiant, especially in the cut corners. This may be avoided by selecting a color grade of G or above.
Emerald cut diamonds are most commonly found in a rectangular shape. However, square ratio Emerald cut diamonds are feasible but uncommon. Emerald diamonds, like Asscher diamonds, are step-cut, giving them a refined Art Deco appeal. Emerald cut diamonds, on the other hand, have vast, open rectangular facets that give them a glacier-like appearance, whilst Asscher cut diamonds emphasize the triangle.
Diamond Registry Tip: Because of the open facets, clarity is quite essential. To be on the safe side, choose a diamond that is "eye-clean" or get a VS2 Clarity grading.
