The rose pruning has been around for around 500 years, but it has not been so popular for around a century. However, over the past 7 years, rose cut diamond rings have grown in popularity.
Learn more about the rose cut diamond from this article.
The starting point should actually be what makes a rose cut so different? The key is in the origins of the cut. Since the first rose cuttings were made in the 16th century, the cutting techniques were much simpler and the cutting reflects this.
What is a rose cut diamond?
A rose cut diamond is just a regular diamond with a flat bottom instead of a pavilion and a domed top that contains only 24 facets. Due to the lack of a pavilion, the cut also lacks the optical properties of a more complex cut with more than twice the number of facets and a deep pavilion.
Put simply, the rose cut is just the top part of a typical diamond, excluding the (pointed) bottom part.
One easy way to spot a rose cut (as opposed to other diamond cuts) is to see the diamond’s internal pattern. If all you see are large triangles, it’s a rose cut, but when you see multiple sets of converging thinner triangles, it’s a different cut.
Like every diamond, the rose-cut diamond ranks on the Mohs scale, according to the GIA as 10 on the hardness scale. The bottomless shape has no effect on the hardness of the molecules.
Different types of rose cut diamond shapes
Although the overall premise of the rose cut diamond is pretty simple, there are still many types of rose cut diamonds out there.
All types of rose cuttings only have the top part, but the scope can vary quite a lot. There are many types, but below are the most popular shapes on the market.
- Round rose cut. If the roundness is perfect, it is usually cut recently. When the roundness is less perfect, it is usually referred to as an old mine rose cut.
- Rose cut pillow shape. A rose-cut diamond, but with a more “pillowy” and longer shape.
- Oval rose cut. A rose cut diamond that is shaped like an oval.
- Old Mine Rose Cut. An antique “uneven” rose cut diamond. Usually something between a lap and a pillow.
Popularity of rose cut diamonds
The rose cut, like the old mine cut, goes back to gentler times when the shock factor in design was several decades – or centuries – away. It may be this that lets the cut live on.
It is also, like so much else, supported by effective support from a sports star or celebrity.
In 2012, Justin Theroux proposed marriage to Jennifer Aniston with an 8-carat antique rose-cut engagement ring. The publicity surrounding the engagement was enormous and opened people’s eyes to this “old world” diamond cut.
Aniston’s ring is actually not entirely round. Instead, it has a slightly elongated shape, which is quite common with rose cuttings.
In fact, the rose cut is one of the most diverse shapes that are made. This could be because the cutters paid less attention to the absolute symmetry that today’s laser cutting machines can create.
The rise of ancient jewelry
But can a single celebrity make such a surge in popularity as we’ve seen? Probably not, but it definitely helps.
In the past 30 years, the popularity of antique diamond rings has increased tremendously. These include rings with rose cut stones. In addition, high-quality rose-cut diamonds are actually quite rare. This combination drives the demand higher and higher.
That is why we see so many rose cuttings with inclusions. Most antique rose cuttings were cut before high magnification was available, and many imperfections were simply invisible to the naked eye. However, these inclusions do not reduce the attractiveness of the cut.
It is possible that the rose cut is just so different from more modern cuts that other differences simply do not matter.
Whatever the reasons, the rose cut will be with us for a while.
Insider Tips for Buying a Rose Cut Diamond
We have been in the industry for over 40 years. Here are our top tips you need to know before buying a rose cut diamond.
- Find out about diamonds and jewelry. Education = leverage. Read our jewelry and diamond blog and order our engagement rings book to find out more.
- Buy your diamond online. Commercial “brick and mortar” businesses have very high overheads that they pass on to you.
- Wait for online promotional discounts. Many providers have regular discounts.
- Lower your expectations for the color and clarity of the rose cut. The difference in cost between a D color and a G color is barely noticeable, but the price of a D color will be much higher. The same principle applies to F Clarity vs. VS2 Clarity Diamond.
- Buy a diamond with a carat weight that is just under a carat number (or half a carat number). For example, buy 1.49 carats instead of 1.50 carats or 1.99 carats instead of 2.00 carats.
Buy rose cut diamond jewelry
Here are some of the rose-cut diamond jewelry pieces from our collection. Feel free to shop for our vintage jewelry page to see more examples.
Do you have any questions about rose cut diamonds? Do not hesitate to contact one of our diamond experts. We will reply as soon as possible.
Comments are closed.