Heart Shaped Diamonds

Of all the gems, the one that most symbolizes love is definitely the diamond. It is, after all, the most precious of rocks, and diamonds are an essential ingredient in the modern engagement ring. An increasingly popular diamond cut for engagement rings is the heart cut.

The heart shaped diamond has certainly gained popularity since the movie Titanic, which featured a large, blue diamond called the Heart of the Ocean. Naturally, that diamond was just a movie prop, but it was based on some famous heart shaped diamonds from real life. The Eugenie Diamond is also a deep blue diamond dating from around 1909. It is cut in an almost ideal heart shape and weighs in at 30.82 carats. The Heart of Eternity is another blue heart diamond and weighs 27.64 carats.

The forever stylish and much missed Elizabeth Taylor was a noted diamond collector. Part of her collection included a large heart-shaped yellow diamond which was a gift from her former husband, Richard Burton. This particular diamond dates back to 1621 when it was presented as a gift from Shah Jahan to is favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal – yes, of Taj Mahal fame.

The modern heart shaped diamond was developed in the late 19th century, and Wade of Boston in the USA had perfected the art by the 1910s. Quite often a diamond rough of low or pique clarity could be shaped by the cutter into a heart shape, which could minimize inclusions thus increasing the value of the cut diamond, and creating a romantic and feminine style of jewel that rapidly became fashionable.

Most heart shaped diamonds have 56 facets. Generally, 22 of these will be located on the pavilion and 33 on the crown. A lot depends on the rough – some finished diamonds may have more or less facets than these general numbers.

If you’re considering a heart shaped diamond, proportion is probably one of your most important considerations. The length of the stone (from the point at the bottom of the heart, to the curves at each side at the top) should be as close as possible to the width of the stone. If the length is too great, the diamond can look too much like an arrowhead. If the width is too great, the diamond can look like a butterfly.

The heart shaped diamond conveys images of beauty, romance and femininity, and is ideal for engagement rings, as well as Valentine’s Day and other significant anniversaries.