fancy cut

Fancy cuts, also known as fancy shapes, refer to any diamond cut that is not a round brilliant or single cut. These cuts include shapes like the marquise, emerald, oval, baguette, heart shape, pear shape, kite, triangle, and trilliant.1

Diamond cutting is a specialized lapidary art involving several steps: marking, cleaving, sawing, girdling, and faceting. The process begins with examining the rough diamond to determine the best way to cut it for maximum value, considering its shape and any imperfections. Cleaving involves splitting the diamond along its natural cleavage planes, a critical step that requires precision to avoid shattering the stone. Sawing uses a thin, diamond-dust-charged blade to cut through the diamond. Girdling rounds the diamond into a cone shape.1

Faceting is the final stage where numerous flat surfaces (facets) are precisely cut and polished onto the diamond. The angles and sizes of these facets are crucial for maximizing the stone's brilliance and fire. While the brilliant cut is the most popular for diamonds, fancy cuts offer diverse aesthetic options.12