How often do princess cuts chip?

[VuittonGal]

I''ve been lurking for a few weeks, but just registered today! I''ve been reading a lot about princess cut stones chipping. Is this very common? Does it get worse the larger the stone?

 

[Ukieza]

I''d like to know too. *BUMP*

 

[Giangi]

Love your S.N.!

We have seen several cases of chipped princesses here on the boards.. If I recall correctly, they were mostly due to a very thin or extremely thin girdle, especially in presence of a natural.
A well set princess (with non-exposed corners) with a fairly even girdle should not present any concern.

..but then again, insurance policies were made for that very reason.

 

[pyramid]

Yes, a natural.

 

[DiamondExpert]

It is certainly more likely to happen with a Princess, what with the sharp corners and when there are V. or X. thin girdles in this area...compounds the felony, so to speak.

 

[Capitol Bill]

A chipped corner (or corners) on a princess cut is a fairly common problem. And as already alluded to above, a very thin or extremely thin girdle can make a princess cut very susceptible to chipping at those corners (and I''ve always avoided them like the plague). Most jewelers know they have to be extra careful when setting a princess because chipping is so common. Even a princess that doesn''t appear to be chipped can have (under high magnification) what I''ve observed as "microchips" on the tips of those sharp corners from improper handling. All of this reminds me of something Bill Bray mentioned recently (Bill is one of the best re-cut and diamond repair specialists in the country). He said repairing chipped princess cuts makes up the bulk of his business.

On a positive note, it''s nice to see that some cutters actually go to the trouble of adding a tiny chamfer on those points for added protection. And the AGS has taken a welcomed stance of allowing those chamfers to exist without detracting from a stone''s overall cut quality. In fact, many would argue (myself included), that those tiny chamfers actually add value to a princess cut by providing increased durability and extra peace of mind.
Bill Scherlag

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

I agree Bill - I am sure it is acceptable for educational purposes to post this AGS copyrighted material.

Actually I often request a small flat to be polished - and it need not be as large as that shown on the left to do the job.

I would be in favor of penalizing stones with none.

BTW - very often the yeild of a diamond being polished from the rough can be increased if cutters are encouraged to chamfer. that is why there are often naturals on corners

 

[Capitol Bill]

Hi Garry,
Are you still on your extended "trains, planes & automobiles" tour or have you returned home in time for the shortest day of the year? Regardless, I''m glad we were on one of your whistle stops.

Regarding the chamfering, it appears from the AGS illustration that they are allowing for quite a bit of chamfering for a stone to still qualify as "square." The chamfering that I was referring to is so miniscule that you need magnification to detect it. A perfect example would be the Infinity princess cuts -- the points on the corners appear very "crisp" to the human eye, and only under the microscope does the chamfer reveal itself. It''s a really nice finishing touch that nobody will see, but one that makes a world of difference to the well-being of the stone.
Bill

 

[Ukieza]

w00t! That''s what mine is suppose to have. Little Chamfers. Excellent!

Ukieza

 

[laughinggravy]

Yeah - me too. I have one waiting at Infinity and Paul explained the chamfers when I mentioned that I was concerned about setting issues. It really does bring peace of mind/ It''s a much better design and you can''t see them with the naked eye at all.
Abi