Diamond Shapes
WE OFFER THE BEST-PRICED, CONFLICT-FREE DIAMONDS IN SOUTH AFRICA. SELECT YOUR PERFECT DIAMOND SHAPE TO FIT YOUR RING OR JEWELLERY PIECE.
Cape Diamonds offers a vast wholesale diamond selection of different diamond shapes. Please Browse through our round-cut, princess-cut, cushion-cut, emerald-cut, marquise, pear-shaped, oval-cut, asscher-cut, radiant-cut and heart-shape diamond collections. Select the perfect diamond shape that pairs with the right colour and clarity combinations that suit your budget.
Many people can feel intimidated by the task of purchasing a diamond. It is up to Cape Diamonds as a reputable business to make sure you know exactly what you are getting and to feel confident about it. Use these tables below to achieve a basic understanding of what you are looking for.
BEST DIAMOND INVESTMENT
Don’t purchase diamonds that are graded below J colour and beyond Si2 clarity by GIA, as they’re visibly imperfect and have little resale value. E-J colour diamonds with high clarity are not great investments as the high clarity makes them expensive in comparison to their colour grade.
The “sweet spot” is any diamond from D-H colour and Vs- Si clarity. D colour diamonds are great investments when the clarity is Flawless- Si2.
Please do your research!
GIA vs SOME OTHER CERTIFICATES
Diamonds that don’t fall into the desirable colour and clarity combinations by GIA are often sent other less respected laboratories to be bumped up to higher grades. It is important to have your diamond graded by well-known, trusted organisations. We sent the same diamond to three different organisations.
A. GIA Diamond Laboratory – K Si2
B. An Untrustworthy Diamond Laboratory – H Si1
C. A Second-Hand Diamond Dealer – F Vs1
ROUND, BRILLIANT-CUT DIAMONDS
Round, brilliant-cut diamonds are the most adored shape across the board, and for good reason – they shine with exceptional fire and brilliance as the facets are at the perfect angle due to the round shape. In a classic round-cut diamond, light sparkles spectacularly off no fewer than 57 or 58 facets. From an iconic solitaire setting to a gorgeous halo or trilogy design, a round-cut diamond offers a scintillating centrepiece for the engagement ring of your dreams.
PRINCESS-CUT DIAMONDS
For a contemporary style fit for royalty, look no further than the breath-taking beauty of the princess-cut diamond. Defined by its square, brilliant cut, the princess-cut diamond offers stunning symmetry and sparkle. Diamond-lovers worldwide adore this distinctive cut for its superior shine and sophisticated look. A solitaire or halo engagement ring featuring an exquisite princess-cut diamond is guaranteed to turn heads and capture hearts.
CUSHION-CUT DIAMONDS
The cushion-cut diamond offers vintage charm with its classic rectangular cut. Featuring distinctive soft-edged corners, the cushion-cut diamond makes a timeless impression in a halo or solitaire engagement ring. Cushion-cut diamonds provide excellent value and gorgeous fiery sparkles in a beautifully feminine shape, making them an exquisite and unique choice.
EMERALD-CUT DIAMONDS
The emerald-cut diamond is famous for its eye-catching geometrical patterning in a fashionable rectangular shape. Choosing an excellent-cut emerald diamond brings out the stone’s unmistakeable fire and brilliance. A perfectly proportioned emerald-cut diamond offers fantastic value and provides a timeless centrepiece in iconic solitaire or trilogy ring designs. The rich history and tradition of the emerald-cut make for a beautiful and distinctive diamond that will attract admiration and delight.
OVAL-CUT DIAMONDS
The true trendsetter will love the oval-cut diamond’s elegant shape, resembling an elongated round-cut diamond. The exquisite cut of an oval diamond optimises its carat size, delivering on both beauty and wow-factor. Choose one of our perfectly proportioned oval-cut diamonds to set in halo or solitaire engagement rings or be the belle of the ball in oval-cut diamond earrings.
PEAR-SHAPED DIAMONDS
Imagine wearing a sparkling diamond in a cut dating back to the Middle Ages – there’s a reason why the graceful pear-shaped diamond has retained its appeal across centuries. With their distinctive shape, pear diamonds offer exceptional value and shimmer thanks to their broad surface area. Set in a glittering engagement ring, accentuated with pavé stones on the band, the pear-shaped diamond marks its wearer as a person of exquisite taste.
RADIANT-CUT DIAMONDS
The beauty of a radiant-cut diamond is explained in its name, as this refined shape displays exceptional shine. Combining fabulous aspects of the round, brilliant-cut diamond and the emerald-cut, the radiant-cut diamond shows off icy-white glints and rainbow glimmers. If you’re looking for that eye-catching sparkle, a radiant-cut diamond offers dazzling glamour and sophistication.
ASSCHER DIAMONDS
When Dutch diamond-cutter Joseph Asscher created the Asscher diamond in 1902, he little imagined how this shimmering square-cut would continue to transfix discerning diamond-lovers into the 21st century. Its stepped facets mirror each other, creating a spectacular optical illusion of infinite reflections that draws your eye into its shining depths. The Art Deco lines of the Asscher-cut feature beautifully in an engagement ring for an elegant and classy diamond-lover.
HEART-SHAPED DIAMONDS
When romance is on your mind, what better way to express your devotion than with a heart-shaped diamond? By modifying the round, brilliant cut diamond, expert diamond-cutters shape this stone into an iconic shape that shines from every angle. With beautiful symmetry and ideal proportions, this special diamond sings a love-song through shimmering rainbow prisms and snow-white sparkles.
MARQUISE DIAMONDS
Marquise diamonds are a noble choice, boasting a captivating oblique shape loved by 18th-century French courtiers and contemporary starlets alike. The dramatic cut of the marquise shows off its undeniable brilliance when expertly shaped to the perfect ratio. Solitaire and halo ring settings complement the elegant marquise diamond, offering a uniquely flattering style that makes the wearer look even more graceful.
FAQ about Diamonds – Questions and Answers
Q) What diamond shape is the most popular?
A) We sell all diamond shapes and have noticed over the past few years that round-cut diamonds are the most popular, followed by oval and princess-cut diamonds.
Q) What diamond shape is the best value for money?
A) Cushion-cut diamonds generally have the least amount of wastage or off-cuts when polished from the rough diamond stone, due to the nature of a raw diamond’s crystal that is similar to the cushion-cut diamond‘s shape. This means you pay less for a 1ct cushion-cut diamond compared to other 1ct diamond shapes.
Q) Why are diamonds from Cape Diamonds the best-priced in South Africa?
A) We have spent 20 years researching the diamond market and sourcing the highest quality stones at the most affordable prices, allowing us to sell the highest quality GIA certified diamonds for wholesale prices rather than retail prices.
Q) Are diamonds from Cape Diamonds the same quality as diamonds from more expensive retail stores?
A) Cape Diamonds only sells GIA graded diamonds. The GIA (Gemological Institute of America) impartially assesses all diamonds according to the “4 Cs”, namely: Colour, Clarity, Cut and Carat size. A diamond is valued by the 4 Cs and not by the place where it is purchased. All retailers have their own mark-up percentages.
Q) What is the GIA?
A)The GIA (Gemological Institution of America) is an independent and non-profit organization that grades diamonds, mined from all over the world, according to size and quality. They have offices to service jewellers in many countries. They do not purchase, buy, sell or trade diamonds. The GIA is the most trusted grading institution of its kind.
Q) Why are GIA diamond grading reports important?
A GIA diamond grading report is essential to obtain when purchasing a diamond. Without it, the diamond has no worth as its origins are unknown, making the diamond at risk of being considered as a lab-made diamond or an illegally mined stone. All GIA diamonds have a unique serial number that is engraved with a nano-laser on the girdle or side of the stone. This number can be seen under a special magnification tool in our showroom as each digit is a 1000th of a millimetre in size. Always look at the serial number on the diamond to make sure it matches the number stated on the GIA report.
Q) What other uses does the GIA number have?
If you take your ring into a jeweller to be cleaned, you can ask to see the number to make sure the diamond has not been swapped for a less valuable diamond or fake stone. You may be able to track your diamond if it is stolen, by alerting second-hand diamond dealers and law enforcement officers that your stone has a unique serial number.
Q) Does Cape Diamond sell diamonds without VAT?
A) All legal diamonds in South Africa are sold with VAT included. If VAT is not included in the price, you should question its origin as it could be linked to a stolen diamond or blood diamond. We do not buy or sell second-hand diamonds due to the nature of the high crime rate in South Africa. However, if you are a tourist, then you are able to claim the VAT back at the airport when leaving the country, which is a significant saving. All our diamonds that are sold to countries outside of South Africa will not include VAT, but they will have import duties according to each specific country’s legislation.
Q) How common are “blood diamonds” in South Africa?
A) Blood diamonds are uncommon in South Africa however they have been fueling civil wars in North and West Africa. South African laws are extremely strict regarding blood diamonds and all diamonds entering the country are inspected by a government body called the South African Diamond and Precious Metal Regulator. It is unlikely that any conflict diamonds will be available in the southern hemisphere as they generally move North where there is a larger market.
Q) Are diamonds with a bigger carat size the most valuable?
A) A popular belief is that the bigger the carat size, the more valuable the diamond. This is simply not true. You can purchase a 3ct diamond with inclusions that is lower in value than a 2ct flawless diamond. Some people prefer quality over size. When choosing a diamond, make sure it has no embarrassingly visible flaws. We only select diamonds that have great resale value.
Q) What is the best diamond colour?
A) According to the GIA colour grade scale, which the entire industry uses, the “D” colour diamond is the whitest or most “colourless” diamond, making it superior to all colours due to the optimal white sparkle emanating from its transparent nature. “D” diamonds are also the rarest colour of all. “D” diamonds are best suited to platinum and white gold settings. Diamonds below the colour “K” have very poor resale value.
Q) What is the cheapest “near-colourless” diamond colour?
A) The price of a diamond is influenced by all the 4 Cs, as certified by the GIA. While the colour is an important factor in determining the price, is it difficult to say which would be the cheapest if you are comparing diamonds of different colours, clarity grades and carat sizes. If you are comparing two “SI2” diamonds, then the cheapest
diamond of the “near colourless” range would be the “I” diamond.
Q) What is the best clarity for a diamond?
A) The highest clarity is “flawless”, as certified by the GIA. Flawless diamonds reveal absolutely no inclusions whatsoever, even under magnification with a jeweller’s loupe. These diamonds cost more and should only be paired with colour “D” for a safe investment. To the naked eye, a diamond with a clarity of “VS1” or “VS2” will appear identical, but it will be less valuable.
Q) What is the best cut for a diamond?
A) Cape Diamonds offers only excellent-cut round diamonds and “very good” to “excellent” cuts in other diamond shapes. The jewellery industry standards dictate that any diamond over 0.5ct should have “excellent” cut, polish and symmetry, while any diamond that is not round in shape is accepted with a “very good” symmetry and polish.
Q) Are diamonds a good investment?
A) Diamonds are a great form of portable wealth that not only retain financial worth but also hold sentimental value. The sweet spot in selecting a diamond as an investment would be to combine the best combination of colour and clarity that is in most demand globally. We have found that the combination of diamond that we sell the most are diamonds of the “D” colour, paired with a “VS1” or “VS2’ clarity. “D” colour diamonds with “SI2” clarity are a great investment as long, as the imperfections cannot be seen with the naked eye. High-quality colours should be paired with similarly high-quality clarity grades, for optimal shine and the most promising resale value. We select the most commonly sold combinations of diamonds. We do not generally sell a diamond combining a poor colour with a high clarity or one showing very noticeable visible flaws, as both of those types of diamonds have low resale value.
Q) Why are diamonds expensive purchases?
A) It is generally understood that it takes 250 tons of rock mining to produce a single carat diamond. The machinery, labour and post-production of cutting and polishing all adds to the justification of diamonds’ expense and value.