Princess or Round

[lwan123]

Hi there, I am new to this place and shopping diamond now. I found people saying princess cut is more expensive than a round cut, if they have same 4C. Is it true? I searched diamond on Blue Nile, but actually found round cut diamond is more more expensive than princess cut. I am so confused. Can you help me?

Another question is: will two 1.5CT H VS2 Excellent cut diamonds in round and princess shade look the same sparkly? Thanks a lot.

 

[stone-cold11]

Princess is less expensive than round for the same weight but will have smaller face up dimension.

Sparkle wise, I would say different. Round basically has the best light return of any cut, Princess more tiny flashes.

EDT:
Ditto Lorelei, above is assuming excellent cut stones.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/29/2009 2:02:58 PM
Author:lwan123
Hi there, I am new to this place and shopping diamond now. I found people saying princess cut is more expensive than a round cut, if they have same 4C. Is it true? I searched diamond on Blue Nile, but actually found round cut diamond is more more expensive than princess cut. I am so confused. Can you help me?

Another question is: will two 1.5CT H VS2 Excellent cut diamonds in round and princess shade look the same sparkly? Thanks a lot.

Welcome!

Rounds are typically more expensive than Princess, rounds usually have the best sparkle but really it depends on the cut quality of each - cut is critical for a beautiful diamond.

 

[jstarfireb]

Rounds are generally priced higher than princesses of the same color, clarity, and weight.

As for sparkle, "common" quality princess cuts are generally dull and lifeless, which leads many to believe that rounds always have more sparkle than princesses. In well cut stones, this isn''t true - ideal cut princess can easily give a round a run for its money when it comes to sparkle. The difference is one of personal preference - aside from the square vs. round shape, do you like many smaller flashes of light, or fewer larger ones?

Round diamonds are also easier to buy online, because the proportions are down to an exact science. There is far more variation in princess cuts, which makes it essential to see pictures and light reflection images before buying.

Finally, there are certain branded square cuts that mimic the optics of rounds, like the Princess of Hearts and Jubilee cuts that Good Old Gold offers. If you like the larger/fewer sparkles of a round, but you prefer the square shape of a princess, these are good options.

 

[bgray]

round--classic timeless and easier to find a good one

 

[lwan123]

Thanks a lot guys

 

[FB.]

Rounds are a safer option, but a bit more expensive on a weight-for-weight basis. Other cuts can have all kinds of sins incorporated and need more careful consideration.
Considering that Princess cuts are generally quite a lot deeper (lots of weight below the girdle on a princess stone) and the corners get hidden under prongs, the visible area of a round and princess of similar value tend to be fairly similar.

 

[chrono]

Round and princess cut diamonds have 2 different looks; obviously different in shape (soft round and angular square) in addition to the different way it sparkles due to the cutting (rounds have medium spakle while princess have tiny pinpoint flashes). I suggest going to a jewellery store that carries well cut diamonds (not the mall or regular chain store) to see the difference yourself and decide which you prefer.

 

[Todd Gray]

Date: 6/29/2009 2:27:00 PM
Author: jstarfireb
Rounds are generally priced higher than princesses of the same color, clarity, and weight.

As for sparkle, 'common' quality princess cuts are generally dull and lifeless, which leads many to believe that rounds always have more sparkle than princesses. In well cut stones, this isn't true - ideal cut princess can easily give a round a run for its money when it comes to sparkle. The difference is one of personal preference - aside from the square vs. round shape, do you like many smaller flashes of light, or fewer larger ones?

Round diamonds are also easier to buy online, because the proportions are down to an exact science. There is far more variation in princess cuts, which makes it essential to see pictures and light reflection images before buying.

Good points! I'd like to expand on them...

Round brilliant cut diamonds are generally more expensive than princess cut diamonds of comparable quality because the diamond rough used to produce each shape is actually a different structure and thus requires a different amount of effort to yield a polished diamond. The diamond rough used to produce a princess cut diamond is such that I've heard it said of some lower quality production that it looked like the cutter merely cut a table and barely faceted the underside of the crystal to produce a princess - then there are other much finer crafted production that is the result of a well planned cutting process which is likely to obtain an AGS Ideal 0 rating for Overall Cut Quality based on individual grades of AGS Ideal 0 for polish, symmetry, proportions, light performance - just as a round brilliant ideal cut diamond would.

The design of a princess cut diamond, especially that of the pavilion facets in terms of the number of chevron facets, shape, etc. will have a dramatic impact on the virtual facets of the diamond - as I recall an AGS Ideal 0 princess cut diamond displays about 186,000 virtual facets when observed at a 45 degrees... That's a whole lot of sparkle!

I wouldn't purchase a round brilliant ideal cut diamond or a princess cut diamond without knowing more than is provided on the lab report - I'd still like to see a Sarin / OGI / Helium / computerized proportions analysis of the diamond and images of the diamond as seen through an ASET / Ideal Scope / Gems Fantasy Scope so that the optical symmetry of the diamond could be judged. With all of that in hand, it's not difficult to purchase a beautiful round or princess cut diamond online.

 

[Stone Hunter]

Everyone makes good points, I would add that you need to go out and try on many many many rings with all shapes and sizes of stones to figure out what looks good on your hand. What is stunning on another person may just look ho hum on your hand. Once you''ve done that you will know if you want a RB or a Princess.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/30/2009 2:43:39 PM
Author: Todd Gray
. The diamond rough used to produce a princess cut diamond is such that I''ve heard it said of some lower quality production that it looked like the cutter merely cut a table and barely faceted the underside of the crystal to produce a princess -

I have actually seen one like that. It looked like a piece of clear ice, nothing going on with the stone.