Top hints for buying emerald cut diamonds

“I was just about to pull the trigger and purchase a Brian Gavin Signature round diamond when I overhead my girlfriend talking with a friend, it seems that she has always loved the classic look of an emerald cut diamond. The problem is that Brian Gavin doesn’t produce emerald cut diamonds, I don’t see them listed in the list of Signature diamonds produced by Brian Gavin. I ran a search for emerald cut diamonds using the virtual inventory search option provided on the BGD web site, but quickly realized that I don’t know what I’m looking for… All of the research I conducted was geared towards round ideal cut diamonds, and now I need to make a decision quickly and don’t have the time to learn everything there is to know about emerald cut diamonds. How about a crash course? Can you tell me what the best proportions are for emerald cut diamonds?”

Helpful hints for emerald cut diamonds:

Unfortunately, emerald cut diamonds are not cut with the same degree of consistency that Brian Gavin Signature round diamonds, and our other signature series diamonds are cut to. Every emerald cut diamond is slightly different in shape, some emerald cut diamonds are more square, others look just like a standard rectangle, and some look like an elongated coffee table.

The best length to width ratio for emerald cut diamonds:

The classic emerald cut diamond has a length to width ratio of 1.50:1.00 which you can determine by dividing the length of the diamond by the width, as stated on the diamond grading report as the measurements of the diamond. For example, if you were looking at an emerald cut diamond that measures 7.99 x 5.33 millimeters, you would divide 7.99 / 5.33 = 1.499 which would be rounded up to a length to width ratio that would be expressed as 1.50:1.00

Note that an emerald cut diamond doesn’t need to have a length to width ratio of 1.50:1.00 to be appealing, that is simply the ratio of the classic emerald cut diamond. People have different preferences for how an emerald cut diamond should look. Some people prefer square emerald cut diamonds which have a length to width ratio between 1.00:1.00 and 1.10:1.00 and other people prefer emerald cut diamonds with length to width ratios that broader.

Best ideal proportions for emerald cut diamonds:

At this point in time, there is not an established set of proportions parameters for emerald cut diamonds, but I find the legacy proportions chart created by appraiser David Atlas to be helpful when selecting emerald cut diamonds. It proposes that the best proportions for an emerald cut diamond are a total depth between 60 – 65% with a table diameter between 60 – 65% and a crown height that is between 12 – 15% with a very thin to slightly thick, or thin to thick girdle edge, or anywhere in between. The challenge of course is that the GIA Gem Trade Laboratory (GIA-GTL) does not provide crown or pavilion measurements on the diamond grading reports that they issue for fancy shape diamonds.

It is possible to get a good idea as to the crown height of an emerald cut diamond by viewing the diamond from a side profile in a clarity photograph or the information can be obtained using computerized proportions analysis.

It is worthy of mention that emerald cut diamonds with slightly larger table diameter and total depth measurements can still be attractive, such as those with a total depth up to 69% and a table diameter up to 72% however I find that those with tighter proportions tend to perform better.

You can search for emerald cut diamonds in the virtual inventory offered by Brian Gavin, and we will be happy to assist you in finding an emerald cut diamond if you contact our customer service department.