Princess cut
{{Short description|Diamond cut shape}}
{{About|a diamond cut|the haircut|Hime cut|the 2015 film|Princess Cut (film)}}
The princess cut (technical name 'square modified brilliant') is a diamond cut shape often used in engagement rings. The name dates back to the 1960s, while the princess cut as it exists was created by Betazel Ambar, Ygal Perlman, and Israel Itzkowitz in 1980. The cut has a square or rectangular shape when viewed from above, and from the side is similar to that of an inverted pyramid with four beveled sides. Its popularity was at its highest in the 80s and 90s, though its popularity was high in the 2000s as well. It is the second most popular diamond cut, below round and above cushion.
Characteristics
File:Princess cut diamond, Boise Diamonds - 4750705838, cropped.jpg
The face-up shape of the princess cut (technical name 'square modified brilliant'{{cite web |url=http://www.thejewelleryeditor.com/bridal/article/diamond-cuts-beginners-guide/ |title=A beginner's guide to diamond cuts |work=The Jewellery Editor |last=Anderson |first=Åse |date=August 1, 2017 |accessdate=January 17, 2019}} is square or rectangular and the profile or side-on shape is similar to that of an inverted pyramid with four beveled sides. The design is sometimes considered feminine.{{cite web |url=https://brentwoodhomepage.com/engagement-ring-buyers-guide-10-steps-to-the-perfect-ring/ |title=Engagement Ring Buyers Guide: 10 steps to the perfect ring |work=Brentwood Homepage |last=Jones |first=Rebekah |date=September 3, 2018 |accessdate=January 10, 2019}} When looked down on, it bears an X shape.{{cite web |url=https://www.today.com/style/most-popular-engagement-ring-cuts-shapes-right-now-t138521 |title=The most popular engagement ring cuts and shapes right now |work=Today |last=Wolf |first=Danielle |date=November 9, 2018 |accessdate=January 10, 2019}} They are slightly less expensive and less cut than round diamonds. The sharp points of the diamond make it more prone to damage. The number of chevrons can affect the overall outlook of a princess cut diamond. This can usually be determined by the wire diagram that is plotted in diamond grading reports.{{cite web |title=Impact of Chevrons on a Princess Cut Diamond Appearance |url=http://onlinediamondbuyingguide.com/Princess-Cut-Diamond/Why-Chevrons-Make-a-Difference.html |publisher=Online Diamond Buying Guide |accessdate=12 Dec 2012}} The princess cut had its origins in the early "French" cut.{{cite web |url=https://vanessanicole.com/princess-cut-how-it-got-popular-and-why-it-continues-to-be/ |title=Princess Cut: How It Got Popular and Why It Continues To Be |work=Vanessa Nicole |accessdate=January 17, 2019}}
History
The name 'princess cut' was applied in the 1960s to a cut created by Arpad Nagy called the profile cut. Following this, more square cuts were given the name. These include the barion cut and the quadrillion cut, which were precursors to the current princess cut. {{cite web |url=https://www.charlesandcolvard.com/blog/post/the-princess-cut-a-popular-gemstone-cut-for-rings-and-more/ |title=The Princess Cut: A Popular Gemstone Cut for Rings & More |work=Charles & Corvard |date=August 15, 2017 |accessdate=January 17, 2019}} It is one of the newest diamond shapes.
Popularity
File:Two princess cut coffee diamonds.jpg.]]
{{As of|2015}}, princess cut diamonds were the second most popular choice for an engagement ring. Approximately 30% of engagement rings use princess cut diamonds, behind round diamonds (50%) and ahead of cushions (8%).{{cite web |url=http://www.littlebirdtoldyou.com/blog/princess-cut-diamonds-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly |title=Princess Cut Diamonds: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly! |work=Little Bird |date=August 14, 2015 |accessdate=January 10, 2019}} It saw its popularity at its peak in the 80s and 90s. The princess cut experienced a rise in popularity from the early 2000s to the mid 2000s.{{cite web |url=https://www.carrollcountytimes.com/columnists/features/cc-en-mcnulty-011719-story.html |title= An Eye for Art: Shipley uses his artistic skills in jewelry design, auctioneering |work=Carroll County Times |last=McNulty |first=Lyndi |date=January 16, 2019 |accessdate=January 17, 2019}} In the 2000s, the most popular engagement ring featured a princess cut diamond surrounded by round brilliant-cut diamonds.{{cite web |url=https://www.usmagazine.com/stylish/news/see-the-most-popular-engagement-rings-from-1910-to-2015-w199879/ |title=See 100 Years of Engagement Ring Styles in Under 3 Minutes |work=Us Weekly |last=Walano |first=Rose |date=March 22, 2016 |accessdate=January 10, 2019}} Disney in conjunction with Zales created a series of Disney Princess rings, with some of them, such as Aurora's, Fa Mulan's, Snow White's, and Tinker Bell's featuring princess cuts.{{cite web |url=https://www.brit.co/zales-disney-princess-rings/?slide=32 |title=Zales Has Disney Princess Rings – Pick Your Fave! |work=Brit and Co. |last=Lignitz |first=Shea |date=December 7, 2017 |accessdate=January 10, 2019}}
Princess cut diamonds have been used in different sports awards. The Chicago Cubs' trophy for their 2016 World Series win featured, among others, two princess cut diamonds.{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-ring-ceremony-20170412-story.html |title= Cubs' ring ceremony saturated with history |work=Chicago Tribune |last=Gonzales |first=Mark |date=April 12, 2017 |accessdate=January 10, 2019}} In 2018, The Capitals' Stanley Cup rings featured 22 princess cut diamonds among hundreds of others.{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2018/10/02/capitals-stanley-cup-rings-feature-diamonds-rubies-sapphire/ |title=The Capitals' Stanley Cup rings feature 252 diamonds, 35 rubies and a sapphire |work=The Washington Post |last=Allen |first=Scott |date=October 1, 2018 |accessdate=January 10, 2019}}
See also
References
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