Pear-Cut Diamond: Tips For Picking the Perfect One

Are you looking for diamond jewelry that shows more of your personality? Something that is still within the classics but has more character? The pear-cut diamond might be the one you are looking for. It is a combination of the modern round brilliant cut and the marquise cut that resembles the shape of a pear fruit or a teardrop. With its curved outline and pointed end, it results in the pear-cut diamond’s unique and classical appearance. Engagement rings set with pear-cut diamonds make the wearer’s finger slimmer. It accentuates the length of your finger.

The pear-cut diamond has been around for many years but is often viewed as a modern cut. It is a flattering choice for an engagement ring and is quite versatile. Creating this elegant beauty requires great craftsmanship, which is why it can be challenging to find a high-quality pear cut. Here’s a comprehensive guide on picking and buying the perfect pear-cut diamond.

Know your pear-cut diamond

Being able to identify the parts of a pear-cut diamond will help you out when picking the perfect one. This shows the jewelry retailer that you are an informed buyer. Showing that you can’t be easily fooled by fancy terms and charming sales pitches.

Pay close attention to the pear-cut diamond’s outline. It should have rounded shoulders and wings. A curved outline and no sharp cuts. The wings should have attractive arches and not be too straight. If they are too straight, you lose the curvature of the pear-cut diamond that makes it look nice and plump. If they are too rounded, it makes the pear-cut diamond look short and stubby. The shoulders shouldn’t be too high on the head or it starts to look more of a triangular shape rather than a pear. Check the symmetry whether one end has the shoulder too high but a little rounder on the other side. Symmetry is very important in pear-cut diamonds. Draw an imaginary line down the length of the pear-cut diamond and check if the two halves mirror each other.

Length-to-Width Ratio

The ideal length-to-width ratio is a matter of personal preference. A lower ratio gives a fuller appearance and has wider width while a higher ratio is skinnier and sharper. The pear cut diamond is a versatile cut that complements any body type and finger size well. Best to try it on and see which one makes your heart leap with joy.

The Bow-Tie Effect

When you are picking the perfect pear-cut diamond, you’ll commonly hear or read about avoiding the bow-tie effect. This is the darkened section that lies across the middle of the diamond’s surface. It looks like a bow tie and this usually happens when the light reflection does not travel enough through your diamond. It may not be possible to avoid the bow-tie effect completely, but pick a stone with the minimal bow-tie effect.

To pick the perfect pear-cut diamond, check the stone in three different lighting conditions. The first one is with regular daylight. Not in direct sunlight but in natural lighting from a window. This will allow you to assess if there is anything inherently wrong with your diamond. You can easily notice if something is off the grade or if there are differences in color. Refer to the 4Cs defined by GIA. The second is under a fluorescent light. This will help you spot any imperfections and check the shape of your pear-cut diamond, and lastly, the sparkle test under an LED light. You can twist and turn your pear-cut diamond to see how much they sparkle. It is best to check the stone under these three lighting conditions because some store lights are made to mask the contrast on the diamond.

It is best to see the pear-cut diamond in person so you can assess how it reflects light. Another way to check for the bow-tie effect is by using an Angular Spectrum Evaluation Tool, also known as an ASET scope. This is a cut quality assessment scope for round diamonds. You can easily purchase one from Amazon for less than a hundred dollars. It is totally worth your money if it saves you from getting a bad diamond. Its translucent cone and a magnifying lens create a structured light environment that reveals areas of brightness, leakage, and contrast when placed over a diamond.

The light entering a diamond from above will either reflect and come up to the viewer’s eyes as brightness or escape through the bottom as leakage or windowing, resulting in dark areas with no light return.

When a diamond suffers from the bowtie effect it would have the Blue contrast effect in the mid-section. Random dark areas or odd contrast areas mean poor brightness. Pick the pear-cut diamond with the most red. This means that it is the brightest.

Recommended Proportions

This is the pear cut diamonds table and depth. Please take into consideration to use this as a guide on picking. This proportion table does not guarantee that a diamond won’t suffer from poor light performance or the bow-tie effect. It only helps reduce the chances of picking out a bad pear cut diamond.

Always check your diamond before purchasing. Check for problematic inclusions that can cause durability issues such as cavities, chips, bruises, etched channels or laser drill holes. Refer to the image below as a guide.

The sharp end of a pear-cut diamond is its most vulnerable spot. It is prone to chipping or cracking. It is best to mount it and protect it with a V-shaped prong or a bezel setting.

Conclusion

You can choose to wear it pointed up or down based on your style. Have it designed as the centerpiece of your jewelry or serve as an accent to your diamond engagement ring. It is best to pick out your perfect pear-cut diamond in trusted shops and see the stone for yourself.

Along the most elegant of diamond-cut shapes, a pear-cut diamond showcases a classical strength in character and boldness in its brilliance. When picking out the perfect one, the overall sparkle and appearance are most important. Enjoy looking at your choices and pick the one that makes your heart fill with joy - tears of joy.