Heart-shaped gems are classic symbols of love, cut with a precise length-to-width ratio to ensure expertly symmetrical curves. Sentimental and as rare as true connection, the heart-shaped diamond is an excellent choice for the classic romantic.
Heart shaped diamonds come in a variety of silhouettes, from narrow to fat. The choice of a particular silhouette should be dictated by personal preference, though the length to width ratio of a classic heart shaped diamond is approximately 1.00.
For hearts that are to be set in pendants, buyers may prefer a slightly narrow cut (1.05 – 1.15), while for hearts set in a solitaire ring, a slightly wide cut (.85 – 1.00) may be most appealing.
Evaluating colour in heart shaped diamonds is subjective. Keep in mind that many buyers may actually prefer the ever so slightly warmer colours of a G-H diamond over the cool colourlessness of a D-F diamond.
In fact, most of the premium price associated with heart shaped diamonds at the higher end of the colour scale is driven by supply and demand; customers want the D-F colour grades and are willing to pay a premium to get them.
In a world without diamond colour grading, the price premium for higher grades would be much lower, as the actual differences in colour are difficult to perceive.
Heart shaped diamonds are a modified version of the round brilliant cut. Because they reflect lots of light, the colour of a heart shaped diamond is harder to distinguish than it is in a diamond with a large table, such as an Emerald or Asscher cut.
This means that there’s no need to choose a flawless colour grade. Doing so will only increase the price you pay for the diamond, without having any noticeable impact on how it looks when viewed by the naked eye.
When it comes to heart shaped diamonds, there’s no one-size-fits-all colour grade that offers the best value for money. Instead, it’s best to pick a colour grade based on the type of metal you plan to use for the diamond’s setting.
However, evaluating clarity in heart shaped diamonds is subjective. Lab entities provide excellent help with their clarity grades. Still, it is important to understand that each customer will have a unique standard for clarity.
Some may be perfectly comfortable with an inclusion as long as they cannot easily see it. Others may insist on a more technically flawless appearance.
Heart shaped diamonds are generally 15 to 20% cheaper than round cut diamonds of similar cut, clarity, colour and carat weight. This means that you can generally get a larger diamond if you opt for a heart shape over a round brilliant cut.
Just like with any other diamond shape, pricing for heart shaped diamonds can vary hugely based on the four Cs — cut, colour, clarity and carat weight.
Unique and beautiful, a beautiful heart shaped diamond engagement ring is the perfect way to show your love for your fiancé-to-be. Because the heart shape uses a large percentage of the rough diamond, it’s also a more cost effective choice than a round brilliant cut diamond.
