In 1964, a Belgium diamond cutter by the name of M. Weistreich endeavored to create a square shaped diamond cut that retained the light reflection of the popular Brilliant Round cut. The result was what we now call the Princess cut; a relatively new cut that quickly gained popularity throughout the rest of the ‘60s and today is the second most popular choices for an engagement ring style.
The Princess cut is a more distinctive alternative to Emerald or Radiant, and is often referred to as a square modified brilliant, because of its superior ability to catch the light. It is also often a little less expensive than the more popular Round cut, because unlike a Round which only retains 50% of the rough diamond it is carved from, the Princess retains 80%.
Although the Emerald cut has a certain quiet elegance to it, the cut tends not to have multiple facets, which facilitates sparkle. The Princess on the other hand, is perfect for styles like Verragio’s Insignia-7010P, which features pave’ set diamonds on a split shank, and a pave’ set halo that surrounds the Princess cut center diamond. If you’re looking for a “show stopper” ring, the princess cut fits nicely into the Pave’ set surrounding, upping the sparkle ante and blending into the design seamlessly.
However, because the Princess is a combination of a square shape and a high light return, it is also strong enough for a solitaire design. Because the diamond center stands alone in a solitaire design, a high amount of sparkle is needed to catch the eye, which is why a Brilliant Round is traditionally used for a solitaire style. However, you can see in Verragio’s Couture-0409P that the Princess cut can certainly steal the show all on its own. This particular ring features an unadorned band, and a Princess cut diamond set in Verragio’s exclusive Lumino setting. This setting is a natural pairing for a Princess because it shows the diamond from all angles and allows it to capture 75% more light than a traditional setting. For a diamond that is cut to catch the light, this is the perfect style, and will ensure that, even if you prefer a more understated ring, it will not go un-noticed.
Weistreich certainly seems to have revolutionized the industry when he created the Princess style, and introduced the world to a truly versatile cut.
There are still nine weeks left in our 10-10-10 contest and plenty of opportunities to compete. So if you have your eye on a Princess cut, like our Venetian-7003, log on to Facebook to see how you can win one for yourself.