It comes as no surprise that most people prefer wearing big diamond rings on their engagement day. While some people go for huge solitaire diamond rings, some couples design their rings with certain settings to make their diamond look bigger than its actual size to achieve the goal. However, the size of the center stone is not the only element that you must take care of in this case; the 4C’s of diamonds, especially the cut also matters.
Needless to mention, you will have to choose a gemstone that boasts excellent cut quality to achieve the best visual appeal. It is to be noted that a diamond with optimal proportions and facets tends to reflect a maximum amount of light off the table making then gemstone shine like anything. This will, in fact, give it an appeal of a huge diamond as well.
Sadly, this is not in the best interest of jewelers since they can make more profit from the latter. As a result, they usually try to make you buy a bigger diamond ring ignoring all other factors. This explains the prominence of spread diamonds. On a related note, spread diamonds, also known as spready diamonds, are huge shallow-cut gemstones that lack brilliance or sparkle. In order to help you out with this, below are some helpful details about spread diamonds and the ways to choose a stunning gemstone with the best cut quality at a relatively affordable price.
Spread Diamonds
These are shallow-cut diamonds that create an illusion of a bigger diamond when compared to gemstones of similar carat weight. This is because of its wider table and shallow cut on the contrary to the actual cut parameters. While people are likely to get attracted to the larger ‘spread’ appeal of these gemstones, it is better to take a closer look at its cut quality before jumping into a conclusion. Note that while these diamonds will be a good option if your priority is its size, spready diamonds will be a poor choice when it comes to sparkle, beauty, and value.
What is the Deal with Spread Diamonds or Shallow-Cut Diamonds?
In the case of shallow-cut diamonds, the light that enters the gemstone tends to hit the bottom facet or pavilion at a weird and low angle. As a result, the light tends to escape out of sides and bottom rather than reflecting through the table to the viewer’s eyes. This will make such diamonds look dull as lifeless. The same thing applies to these inexpensive loose diamonds as well. So, a person who gives priority to the gleaming appeal of his/her bauble might not prefer spread diamond rings. However, these affordable diamonds will be much bigger when compared to other shallow-cut diamonds.
Ideal Cut Proportions
The cut of a diamond refers to the perfection in its facet organization and proportions. It is often considered as a parameter to determine the width, table size, depth, scintillation, facets, etc., of diamonds. In simple words, the cut of a diamond dictates its overall brilliance and beauty making it one of the most significant factors.
When it comes to the best cut quality, professionals often recommend the excellent or ideal cut to achieve the best visual appeal. Note that these are the best grading quality options when it comes to the diamond cut. However, never zero in on a diamond by checking out the grading report alone. Rather, you will have to evaluate your gemstone thoroughly using a diamond loupe or other tools. Keep in mind that the effect of a particular cut on diamonds tend to change with other factors such as its color, clarity, diamond ring setting, metal choice, etc.
When it comes to the most coveted round brilliant diamonds, the ideal cut proportion is reported to be the one with depth and table percentage less than 62.5% and 59% respectively. On the other hand, it will be challenging for a jeweler to determine the ideal cut proportions for a fancy-cut diamond such as the pear cut, marquise cut, etc. Hence, it is highly recommended to buy such diamonds only under expert supervision.
The pros and cons of spread diamonds
Needless to mention, it is always better to weigh the upsides and downsides when making any purchase. This is even more important in case of a huge investment like diamonds. In order to help you out with this, below are some of the important pros and cons of choosing spread diamonds.
The pros
- Give the appeal of huge diamonds when compared to the diamonds of the same carat weight. In other words, you can own a bigger diamond at a relatively cheaper price.
The cons
- Spread diamonds lack sparkle because of its too shallow cut
- Lacks beauty and value
- Susceptible to chipping and scratching
- Comparatively difficult to upgrade or exchange
In short, it will be always better to purchase a small diamond that boasts excellent cut quality or decent sparkle than a dull spread diamond of a bigger size. Of course, you can go for the latter option if you prefer to keep it cheap and low-key or would love to give a vintage twist to your diamond rings.