The heart cut is the most sentimental of all the fancy cuts. There is no disputing the romance of the heart shape, a popular choice for setting into diamond jewellery ever since the 15th century. The heart cut makes for a striking diamond engagement ring, pair of diamond stud earrings, or a diamond pendant. Other popular fancy cuts include the princess cut, the emerald cut, the marquise cut and the cushion cut. Browse our selection of HRD, IGI and GIA certified heart cut diamonds and learn more about this shape in our online guide below.
The unabashedly romantic heart cut diamond is a symbolic and meaningful gesture for a diamond engagement ring, but also for an anniversary present. This sweet shape also looks mesmerizing set into necklaces, pendants and earrings. The heart cut has a fresh and modern look to it, it is often chosen by ladies who desire a unique, fashionable and contemporary piece of jewellery. However, the heart cut diamond has a long history of symbolising bonds of love and friendship.
The heart cut can be traced back to 1463, with its first recorded mention in a letter. Within the letter, the Duke of Milan, Galeazzo Maria Sforza admired a heart-cut stone owned by Cosimo de Medici. It is reputed that this stone was cut by Lodewyk van Berquem, the inventor of the diamond polishing wheel.
One hundred years later, gifting heart shape diamonds was common practice between royals as gestures of good will. The symbollic shape, combined with the immense difficulty to create such a shape in a diamond made them a highly cherished cut gemstone. In 1562 Mary Queen of Scots is said to have sent Queen Elizabeth I a ring set with a ‘diamond made like a heart’ as a token of friendship. The first heart cut diamond recorded in a portrait appears in ‘Margherita Gonzaga’ by Frans Pourbus the younger in 1605. In the composition, the sitter wears a brooch on her left arm set with heart-shape diamonds and drop pearls. However, the modern heart shape, that draws inspiration from the round brilliant cut, didn’t appear until the early 20th century.
When searching for the perfect heart cut diamond, it is imperative that you buy from a trusted retailer. This is because the heart cut is one of the most difficult shapes to create. Creating a heart shape diamond from a piece of rough crystal requires a highly experienced and skilled diamond cutter, and so there are many heart cuts out there that with a less than desirable shape and symmetry. The British Diamond Company is rigorous in its pursuit of well-proportioned, spectacular diamonds. The ideal heart cut diamond has a length to width ratio between 0.9 and 1.10. It has perfect symmetry of its lobes and a sharp tapered cleft. Attaining a heart cut diamond with a desirable cut grading also removes the ‘bow tie’ effect that can seriously affect a stone’s sparkle and scintillation.
The heart cut diamond is an undisputed symbol of devotion. It is a unique and highly personal diamond shape to give to your beloved.
Contact our team of diamond jewellery specialists for more advice on diamond cuts. Buy heart cut diamond engagement rings and jewellery online with 0% interest free finance and free UK delivery. Call us on 01335 453 453 or email us at sales@britishdiamondcompany.com.