Emerald diamonds

The emerald cut diamond stands as a monument to refined sophistication and understated glamour. Originating in the 1500s for emerald gemstones, this distinguished rectangular cut was later perfected for diamonds, creating an identifiable silhouette that speaks to discerning taste. The emerald cut diamond showcases a hall-of-mirrors effect through its step-cut faceting, revealing clarity and colour with breathtaking transparency.

Distinguished by its clean lines and Art Deco heritage, the emerald cut offers unparalleled elegance for those who appreciate subtle luxury. The rectangular silhouette of an emerald cut diamond ring elongates the finger while exuding vintage-inspired charm.

In this definitive guide, we explore the sophisticated world of emerald cut diamonds, celebrating their unique ability to showcase pure diamond beauty through architectural precision, ideal for connoisseurs seeking refined luxury.

What is an emerald cut?

The emerald cut diamond is a rectangular step-cut featuring clean parallel facets and cropped corners. The sophisticated emerald cut showcases exceptional clarity through its large table and open faceting, creating a hall-of-mirrors effect that emphasises the diamond's natural beauty rather than brilliant sparkle.

How Many Facets does an emerald diamond have?

An emerald cut diamond features 57 step-cut facets arranged in rectangular patterns. These broad, flat facets create distinctive flashes of light rather than intense sparkle, highlighting the emerald diamond's clarity and colour through sophisticated geometric precision.

WHY choose an emerald cut diamond?

The emerald cut ring captivates with its distinctive Art Deco sophistication and architectural beauty. This unique emerald cut engagement ring offers refined glamour that stands apart from conventional choices, celebrating individuality through its stepped faceting and vintage-inspired allure. Perfect for those seeking both distinction and class.

What does an emerald cut ring symbolise?

An emerald cut engagement ring symbolises transparency, honesty, and crystal-clear devotion. The open faceting represents a love built on trust and openness, where nothing is hidden. The emerald cut diamond engagement ring embodies clarity of purpose and authentic connection, reflecting a partnership as pure and genuine as the diamond's revealing design.

Emerald Cut Diamond at a Glance

Elegant and sophisticated rectangular cut with vintage-inspired appeal.
Step-cut facets create elegant, mirror-like flashes.
Favours clarity and expert craftsmanship over sparkle.
Inclusions and colour are more visible, so diamond quality matters.
Defined by crisp lines and a refined Art Deco aesthetic.
Understated yet impactful — a choice of quiet confidence.

Get the most out of your emerald diamond with the 4c's

Reveal the refined beauty of your emerald cut diamond by understanding the 4Cs—cut, colour, clarity, and carat. This elegant diamond shape demands precision, and the right combination of factors enhances its mirror effect, giving you crisp lines, graceful symmetry, and excellent value.

Learn about the 4C's of diamonds

Choosing emerald cut diamond colour

When selecting colour for your emerald cut diamond, the step-cut faceting demands careful consideration. Diamond colour grades progress from D (completely colourless) through the alphabet, with D to F representing the colourless range that perfectly complements emerald cut engagement rings.

The emerald cut's large, open table creates expansive windows into the stone, making colour variations more apparent than brilliant cuts. This transparency means colour selection becomes crucial for emerald diamond rings, especially in platinum or white gold engagement ring settings.

For platinum or white gold emerald cut diamond rings, staying within D–F grades ensures optimal brilliance. However, if you've chosen yellow gold or rose gold for your emerald cut ring, you can explore G or H grades successfully. These warmer precious metals harmonise with slightly tinted diamonds, creating beautiful synergy while offering budget flexibility.

What is the best clarity for an emerald cut diamond?

Emerald cut diamonds require exceptional clarity due to their step-cut architecture. The large, open facets create crystalline windows that easily reveal inclusions, making any flaws highly visible to the naked eye.

Unlike brilliant cuts that scatter light to mask imperfections, emerald diamonds showcase clarity through geometric facet arrangement. Each step-cut layer reflects inclusions throughout the stone's structure, making higher clarity grades essential for emerald cut diamond rings.

For optimal results, choose VS2 clarity or higher for your emerald diamond ring. This ensures eye-clean appearance while maintaining pristine transparency that makes emerald cut engagement rings striking. Larger emerald cut diamonds exceeding 2.00 carats benefit from VS1 grades, as increased size amplifies inclusion visibility. The emerald cut's hall-of-mirrors effect transforms superior clarity into breathtaking beauty for emerald cut diamond engagement rings.

Choosing an emerald diamond cut grade

Emerald cut diamonds don't receive formal cut grades like round brilliants, making selection dependent on proportional harmony and expert craftsmanship. The quality of an emerald cut diamond relies on achieving perfect balance between symmetry, proportion, and polish that maximises the step-cut's inherent elegance.

A masterfully cut emerald diamond exhibits sophisticated beauty through geometric precision, with light flowing smoothly across parallel step-cut facets. The emerald cut's rectangular silhouette demands exceptional skill to maintain perfect symmetry while creating the hall-of-mirrors effect that defines this distinguished shape.

Superior cutting ensures each step-cut facet aligns precisely, creating crisp, geometric lines that make rectangle diamonds compelling. When expertly executed, an emerald cut diamond delivers sophisticated elegance while showcasing the refined aesthetic that makes emerald cut engagement rings captivating.

How do you know if an emerald diamond is well cut?

A well-cut emerald cut diamond balances geometric precision with sophisticated light performance. The step-cut architecture demands expert faceting to achieve optimal elegance while maintaining the crisp, architectural silhouette of the emerald cut.

Superior emerald diamonds exhibit three key qualities: exceptional visual impact (how bright and clear the diamond appears), elegant design (perfect proportions creating ideal rectangular geometry), and expert craftsmanship (precise faceting and finishing that optimises the step-cut's inherent beauty).

There are key indicators that help you spot a well-cut rectangle diamond:

Length-to-Width Ratio: Look for ratios between 1.40 to 1.50 to ensure your emerald cut diamond displays ideal proportions. The optimal range sits at 1.40 to 1.45, creating elegant elongation that makes emerald diamond engagement rings particularly striking.
Table Ratio: The central facet should measure between 58-73% of the diamond's width. This range allows optimal light entry while maintaining the step-cut's characteristic transparency and geometric appeal.
Depth Ratio: Ideal depth ratios fall between 65-74%, enabling proper light reflection within the stone's step-cut architecture rather than allowing light to escape through the base.

When these proportions align perfectly, the result is an emerald cut diamond that radiates sophisticated elegance and crystalline beauty. The finest emerald diamonds also demonstrate excellent symmetry and polish grades that enhance their architectural precision and refined light reflection capabilities

Our top tips on emerald cut

Upgrade your clarity standards - the large, open facets act like windows, making VS2 or higher essential for a clean appearance.
Inspect with extra scrutiny - inclusions and blemishes are highly visible in this transparent cut so for maximum radiance, it important that the diamond is eye clean.
Perfect the proportions - seek length-to-width ratios between 1.40-1.50 for classic elegance, with table percentages around 58-73%.
Consider the setting style - the clean lines pair beautifully with sleek, architectural settings that complement rather than compete.
Appreciate the understated elegance - emerald cuts offer sophisticated brilliance rather than fiery sparkle, suiting refined tastes with an Art Deco flare.