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1 888-658-6372
Click below to speak to a Diamond Consultant or customer service.
1 888-658-6372
or
Live Chat8:00 am - 6:00 pm CST (Mon - Fri)
The modified brilliant-cut heart shaped diamond is a unique and unmistakable symbol of love. Heart shaped diamonds are very popular in solitaire pendants as well as rings. When choosing a heart, symmetry is a very important characteristic, since it is critical that the two halves of the heart are identical. The cleft (between the two lobes) should be sharp and distinct, and the wings (the sides as they curve down to the point) should have a very slightly rounded shape.
Heart shaped diamonds of less than .50 carats may not be a good choice, as the heart shape is more difficult to perceive in smaller diamonds, especially after they are set in prongs. For smaller hearts, a bezel or three prong setting (one prong on each lobe, one prong at the point) will better preserve the heart shape outline of the diamond after it is set.
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. Every Lumera Diamond includes precise measurements, as well as the length to width ratio, so you know the exact shape of the heart shape diamond you are considering.
The chart below serves as a general guideline for evaluating the cut of a heart shaped diamond.
| EXCELLENT | VERY GOOD | GOOD | FAIR | POOR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Table % | 53 - 63 |
52
or 64 - 65 |
51
or 66 - 68 |
50
or 69 - 70 |
< 50
or > 70 |
| Depth % | 58 - 62 |
56 - 57.9
or 62.1 - 66 |
53 - 55.9
or 66.1 - 71 |
50 - 52.9
or 71.1 - 74 |
< 50
or > 74 |
| Girdle | Very Thin - Slightly Thick |
Very Thin
to Thick |
Very Thin
to Very Thick |
Ex. Thin
to Ex. Thick |
|
| Culet | None | Very Small | Small | Medium | > Medium |
| L/W Ratio | .95 - 1.02 |
.89 - .94
or 1.03 - 1.05 |
.83 - .87
or 1.06 - 1.10 |
.80 - .83
or 1.11 - 1.15 |
> .80
or < 1.15 |
Evaluating color in heart shaped diamonds is subjective. Keep in mind that many buyers may actually prefer the ever so slightly warmer colors of a G-H diamond over the cool colorlessness of a D-F diamond. In fact, most of the premium in price associated with heart shaped diamonds at the higher end of the color scale is driven by supply and demand; customers want the D-F color grades, and are willing to pay a premium to get them. In a world without diamond color grading, the price premium for higher grades would be much lower, as the actual differences in color are difficult to perceive.
The color chart below provides a general guide for evaluating color in heart shaped diamonds.
| EXCELLENT | VERY GOOD | GOOD | FAIR | POOR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| < .50 ct. | D - G | H - I | J - K | L - M | > M |
| .51-1.0 ct. | D - F | G | H - I | J - K | > K |
| 1.0-2.0 ct. | D - F | G - H | I - J | > J | |
| > 2.0 ct. | D - F | G | H - I | > I | |
| Fluoro | None | Faint - Med | Strong | Very Strong | |
Like color, evaluating clarity in heart shaped diamonds is subjective. GIA provides 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. The clarity chart below provides a general guide for evaluating clarity in heart shaped diamonds.
| EXCELLENT | VERY GOOD | GOOD | FAIR | POOR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| < .50 ct. | FL - VS2 | SI1 - SI2 | I1 | I2 | > I2 |
| .51-1.0 ct. | FL - VS1 | VS2 - SI1 | SI2 | I1 - I2 | > I2 |
| 1.0-2.0 ct. | FL - VVS2 | VS1 - VS2 | SI1 - SI2 | I1 | > I1 |
| > 2.0 ct. | FL - VVS2 | VS1 - VS2 | SI1 | SI2 | > SI2 |
Questions about shape or other aspects of a diamond? Ask a diamond consultant for answers. A consultant will answer any questions you have, and if you like, search for diamonds on your behalf that match your criteria. chat online, or email consultant@lumeradiamonds.com.
