The beautiful pear shaped diamond is a very popular and trendy cut, especially for engagement rings. This unique style is shaped like a teardrop with an unusual silhouette, and it’s unlike any other diamond shape. They are eye-catching and very delicate, and their sharp edges combined with rounded curves carry a divinely feminine quality.
Pear shaped diamonds are also known as teardrop diamonds, due to their distinctive raindrop shape. This special shape is said to symbolise tears of joy.
Fascinated? Join us as we take a closer look at this gorgeous diamond shape. We’ve shared some important information that will help you choose whether or not to make this diamond cut is the one for you.
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- What Is A Pear Shaped Diamond?
- What Is The Origin And History Of Pear Shaped Diamonds?
- What Are The Pros And Cons Of Pear Shaped Diamonds?
- Pros:
- Cons:
- How To Measure And Select A Pear Shaped Diamond
- What Are The Best Ring Settings For Pear Shaped Diamonds?
- How Much Are Pear Shaped Diamonds?
- What Does A Pear Shaped Diamond Say About You?
- How Popular Are Pear Shaped Diamonds In The Us And Around The World?
- Comparing Pear Shaped Diamonds Vs Other Diamond Cuts
What Is A Pear Shaped Diamond?
The stunning pear shaped diamond is a perfect combination of the well-known round brilliant cut and the marquise cut. The round cut is the most popular diamond cut in the world, it holds light beautifully and is full of brilliance and sparkle. The marquise cut is a dainty and feminine cut, it’s delicate, yet stunning.
The combination of these two shapes is where a pear shaped diamond is born.
What Is The Origin And History Of Pear Shaped Diamonds?
Pear shaped diamonds date back to the late 1400s when it was first attempted by Flemish polisher Lodewyk van Berquem. Just before he created the pear cut, Lodewyk had a diamond polishing machine called the ‘scaif.’ This machine changed the industry forever and was a milestone for jewellers and diamond cutters alike. The machine allowed facets to be placed into any diamond with total and perfect symmetry.
The pear shaped diamond has had a bad rap throughout history since its creation. It was not very popular after it had been created and only gained popularity much later on.
The moment that changed the future of the trend trajectory for the pear cut diamond was when, in 1969, Richard Burton (husband to Elizabeth Taylor), bought her one. This extravagant pear shaped diamond ring was a whopping 69.42 carat and brought the pear cut diamond shape into the spotlight.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Pear Shaped Diamonds?
The pros and cons of the pear shaped diamond are a hot topic, there are many jewellers and gem enthusiasts out there that believe that the pear shape is not a good choice due to its vulnerable shape. Let’s take a deeper look at the pros and cons of the pear cut:
Pros:
- The shape of the pear cut is very flattering, bringing a feminine and elongated quality to your finger.
- It is cheaper per carat than the round brilliant cut
- It has an unusual and unique shape, setting you and your ring apart from other shapes and ring types
- When the pear shape diamond is cut well, it has immense brightness and brilliance due to its faceting style
Cons:
- It is rare to find an incredibly high quality pear cut diamond
- The “bow tie” effect is very common in a pear shape cut. This effect is a darkened spot that runs across the stone giving the look of a man’s bow tie. This happens when the gem is poorly cut.
- Getting the cut perfectly symmetrical can be very difficult
- The end of the teardrop piece is a very vulnerable point and can crack off or break the diamond very easily
How To Measure And Select A Pear Shaped Diamond
Here are some points to consider when selecting and measuring a pear shaped diamond:
- Ensure the stone has been cut symmetrically
- Educate yourself on the anatomy of a pear shaped diamond
- Find a gem with the perfect length-to-width ratio
- Make sure it is free of the “bow-tie” effect
- Check to see that the table of the diamond is in the centre of the diamond
- Ensure you set the diamond in a ring that keeps the pointed piece safe from damage
What Are The Best Ring Settings For Pear Shaped Diamonds?
There are two main diamond settings to consider when buying a pear shaped stone.
The first one is the prong setting, it comes in either five or six prongs. The 6 prong setting is the most ideal and popular for pear shaped diamonds. The prongs safely keep the gem in place whilst still being able to see the stone fully. Both of these settings allow the diamond to be kept safe as well as allowing it to sparkle at its best.
The next best setting for a pear shaped diamond is called the halo or double halo setting. This setting holds the gem in place via a row of ring material, or a double row if it’s a double halo. It is the most protective type of setting and it allows the centre of the gem to look as large as possible.
How Much Are Pear Shaped Diamonds?
The price of any diamond, especially the pear shaped cut, will ultimately depend on the cut, symmetry, clarity and colour. But a good quality gem that has been cut correctly with decent clarity and colour will be between £3000 and £4000 per carat.
What Does A Pear Shaped Diamond Say About You?
The pear shaped diamond engagement ring doesn’t have a very specific meaning per say. But some people like to think that his unique cut says that the woman wearing it is adventurous, feminine, delicate and unique.
It is also known to represent pure and passionate love between two people and promises to ensure a successful marriage.
How Popular Are Pear Shaped Diamonds In The Us And Around The World?
The pear shaped diamond cut is said to make up around 2.27% of the total sales in America, and about 4% of sales throughout the world.
The pear shaped diamond has become increasingly popular with many celebrities using this unique cut as their engagement rings. But overall, it’s still not the most common shape to find in an engagement ring.
Comparing Pear Shaped Diamonds Vs Other Diamond Cuts
The pear shaped diamond is a beautiful and stunning cut, but really only appeals to very a certain type of woman with a very specific taste, the delicate teardrop finish is not for everyone. Especially considering how vulnerable the stone can be due to its unusual shape. They offer amazing sparkle and brilliance but are not the highest ranked in this category.
Just in case you are still unsure if the pear shaped cut is for you or not, here is a list of brilliant cut diamonds, in order of highest sparkle and brilliance to lowest:
- Round brilliant
- Pear, oval, marquise
- Heart and princess
- Cushion and radiant cut
- Do you know what cut you prefer now?
Chermaine’s journey into the world of gemstones and crystals began as a child, collecting shimmering stones on family vacations. Today, she’s a certified gemologist and spiritual healer, intertwining the physical beauty of jewels with their metaphysical properties.
Chermaine has traveled to mines in Africa, marketplaces in India, and spiritual retreats in Bali, always seeking to deepen her understanding.