What makes a princess cut diamond shine?

One of the most popular diamond cuts is also one of the newest. Having been created in the 1960s, princess cut diamond rings grew in popularity due to their affordability compared to the Round Brilliant diamonds. The main reason for this is that unlike a round diamond, a princess cut is a square cut that retains approximately 80% of the original rough diamond. As it’s popularity has grown, jewellers in Bondi have worked to source the best and brightest diamonds for their jewellery.

A diamond does not generate light on its own, and its brightness comes from the light around it. This light is reflected, refracted and dispersed through the diamond in order to give it its shine. The shine of a diamond is linked directly to the way in which it is cut, as this will affect the way light behaves around it. The shape of the diamond will also affect how it sparkles, with a diamond that is too deep or too shallow will affect how much of the light bounces back, or reflects.

As light is the key component to a diamonds shine, the clarity of a stone can have an effect on its shine. Imperfections and blemishes on the stones surface can restrict the amount of light that passes through it. Having selected a clear and unblemished stone, it’s brightness can be further enhanced by polishing it.

The cut of a diamond, particularly the symmetry of its facets, plays a major part on its level of refraction. Refraction for diamonds is when the light passes through one of the facets, changing directions as the waves of light hit different points of the diamond. Fewer facets means a more solid looking stone, but more facets will give a distinct shape and a more brilliant shine.

There is no one element alone which makes for a diamond with a great shine. By looking for clear unblemished stones with symmetrical cuts, professional jewellers can craft stunning pieces that will light up the room.