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Timeless Designs Blog
Make Every Moment Timeless...Timeless Designs by Jacob and Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14138090772755903892noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125
Updated: 3 hours 1 min ago
What's In A Shape?
The shape of a ring's center stone is, more often than not, the first thing someone notices when their eyes first take in a piece. It gives the ring personality and style, as simply changing the center stone can dramatically affect the look and feel of any given ring. Knowing a few details about each center cut can be essential to finding the right stone for you. Here's a little brush-up on one of the Jewelery 101 basics : Stone Cuts.
Round
R1228BThe most popular of the diamond shapes, the Round cut is designed to maximize the brilliance, fire and scintillation of a stone. In other words, its "sparkle". Not surprisingly, it is also known as a "Brilliant Cut'" from the amount of sparkle its gives off. The earliest recorded round diamond dates back to 1477, when the first diamond engagement ring was given to Mary of Burgundy as a promise of marriage.
R1364PC
Princess
This angular cut is the second most popular diamond cut, similar to that of an inverted pyramid with four beveled sides. First made in the 1960's, it is still a relatively new diamond cut. The Princess cut retains the high amount of brilliance that a Round cut exhibits but does it with a distinctive square shape. And when compared to a stone of the same carat weight of a Round cut, a Princess cut will appear 15% larger.
R1104OV
Oval
Like the Princess, the Oval cut is another modified Brilliant that came around in the 1960's. However, Oval diamonds have the advantage of an elongated shape, giving the illusion than it's larger than it actually is. How fat or narrow the Oval is is usually based on personal preference, with the classic cut falling in the middle around 1.35 - 1.50 millimeters. More slender cuts make the wearer's finger look slightly elongated while thicker cuts make the Oval look larger than what it's actual carat size may be.
Marquise
R1443-MQThe Marquise diamond has one of the largest crown surface areas of any other shape, making it a good choice when trying to maximize how big a diamond looks. What is most important in a Marquise is its symmetry, with the best marquise being a complete mirror image of itself when you divide it in half. The name is derived from the Marquise of Pompadour, for whom King Louis XIV of France allegedly had a stone fashioned to resemble, what he considered, her perfectly shaped mouth.
Emerald
R1553What the Emerald cut lacks in brilliance, it makes up in elegance. Instead of extreme sparkle, it produces a "hall of mirrors" effect, with interplay of light and dark in its step cuts. Its long inner cuts cause dramatic flashes of light and gives it more of an exquisite feel than that of the Brilliant. The shape of the cut was originally developed for the cutting of emeralds, and thus became its name.
Cushion
R1539The Cushion cut, once referred to as the old mine cut, is a square cut with rounded corners, much like a pillow (hence the name). This classic cut has been around for almost 200 years and, for the first century of its existence, it was the most popular diamond shape to have like the Round is today. Until the early 20th century, the cushion cut diamond was the de facto diamond shape. Partially based on cut research in the 1920's, refinements to Cushion diamonds have led to a resurgence in popularity. Many buyers are attracted to the antique feel combined with its modern performance.
Pear
R1464The Pear-shaped cut is another modified Brilliant cut and combines a round and a marquise shape with a tapered point on one end. The diamond is always worn with the narrow end pointing toward the hand of the wearer. Like Marquise and Oval cuts, the pear shaped diamond comes in a variety of slim to wide cuts and should posses good, if not perfect, symmetry.
Radiant
R1429First popular in the 1980's, the cropped corner square shape of the Radiant is a nice bridge between a Cushion and a Princess cut. There are diverse preferences when it comes to shape in radiant cut diamonds, from perfectly square to a more traditional rectangle. The rectangular radiant cut is an excellent option for buyers who like the Emerald cut shape, but want something with the brilliance of a Round cut.
Asscher
R1130AS The Asscher cut diamond was first produced in 1902 by the Asscher Brothers of Holland, famous at the time for cutting the world's largest rough stone, the Cullinan, weighing in at a whopping 3,106 carats. Around 2002, one hundred years after the first Asscher was created, the shape began to make a comeback, spurred on by cut modifications that gave the shape more brilliance than the traditional Asscher cut. The modern cut is similar to a square Emerald cut but often produces more brilliance.
R1184HS
Heart
The unique and unmistakable symbol of love, Heart shaped diamonds are very popular in solitaire pendants as well as rings. Symmetry is a very important when choosing a Heart since it is critical that the two halves are identical. It is another modified Brilliant cut, full of brilliance and fire, appropriate for a stone embodying the universal shape for love. Popular since the 1400's, it has been used for many types of pieces of jewelry, from simply sentimental to romantic alike.
No matter what the center, each stone cut is unique and brings something special to the ring it sits in. Whether sparkly or elegant, romantic or antique, a diamond's timelessness has remained steadfast over the centuries and will probably continue to do so for years to come.
Round
R1228BThe most popular of the diamond shapes, the Round cut is designed to maximize the brilliance, fire and scintillation of a stone. In other words, its "sparkle". Not surprisingly, it is also known as a "Brilliant Cut'" from the amount of sparkle its gives off. The earliest recorded round diamond dates back to 1477, when the first diamond engagement ring was given to Mary of Burgundy as a promise of marriage.
R1364PC
Princess
This angular cut is the second most popular diamond cut, similar to that of an inverted pyramid with four beveled sides. First made in the 1960's, it is still a relatively new diamond cut. The Princess cut retains the high amount of brilliance that a Round cut exhibits but does it with a distinctive square shape. And when compared to a stone of the same carat weight of a Round cut, a Princess cut will appear 15% larger.
R1104OV
Oval
Like the Princess, the Oval cut is another modified Brilliant that came around in the 1960's. However, Oval diamonds have the advantage of an elongated shape, giving the illusion than it's larger than it actually is. How fat or narrow the Oval is is usually based on personal preference, with the classic cut falling in the middle around 1.35 - 1.50 millimeters. More slender cuts make the wearer's finger look slightly elongated while thicker cuts make the Oval look larger than what it's actual carat size may be.
Marquise
R1443-MQThe Marquise diamond has one of the largest crown surface areas of any other shape, making it a good choice when trying to maximize how big a diamond looks. What is most important in a Marquise is its symmetry, with the best marquise being a complete mirror image of itself when you divide it in half. The name is derived from the Marquise of Pompadour, for whom King Louis XIV of France allegedly had a stone fashioned to resemble, what he considered, her perfectly shaped mouth.
Emerald
R1553What the Emerald cut lacks in brilliance, it makes up in elegance. Instead of extreme sparkle, it produces a "hall of mirrors" effect, with interplay of light and dark in its step cuts. Its long inner cuts cause dramatic flashes of light and gives it more of an exquisite feel than that of the Brilliant. The shape of the cut was originally developed for the cutting of emeralds, and thus became its name.
Cushion
R1539The Cushion cut, once referred to as the old mine cut, is a square cut with rounded corners, much like a pillow (hence the name). This classic cut has been around for almost 200 years and, for the first century of its existence, it was the most popular diamond shape to have like the Round is today. Until the early 20th century, the cushion cut diamond was the de facto diamond shape. Partially based on cut research in the 1920's, refinements to Cushion diamonds have led to a resurgence in popularity. Many buyers are attracted to the antique feel combined with its modern performance.
Pear
R1464The Pear-shaped cut is another modified Brilliant cut and combines a round and a marquise shape with a tapered point on one end. The diamond is always worn with the narrow end pointing toward the hand of the wearer. Like Marquise and Oval cuts, the pear shaped diamond comes in a variety of slim to wide cuts and should posses good, if not perfect, symmetry.
Radiant
R1429First popular in the 1980's, the cropped corner square shape of the Radiant is a nice bridge between a Cushion and a Princess cut. There are diverse preferences when it comes to shape in radiant cut diamonds, from perfectly square to a more traditional rectangle. The rectangular radiant cut is an excellent option for buyers who like the Emerald cut shape, but want something with the brilliance of a Round cut.
Asscher
R1130AS The Asscher cut diamond was first produced in 1902 by the Asscher Brothers of Holland, famous at the time for cutting the world's largest rough stone, the Cullinan, weighing in at a whopping 3,106 carats. Around 2002, one hundred years after the first Asscher was created, the shape began to make a comeback, spurred on by cut modifications that gave the shape more brilliance than the traditional Asscher cut. The modern cut is similar to a square Emerald cut but often produces more brilliance.
R1184HS
Heart
The unique and unmistakable symbol of love, Heart shaped diamonds are very popular in solitaire pendants as well as rings. Symmetry is a very important when choosing a Heart since it is critical that the two halves are identical. It is another modified Brilliant cut, full of brilliance and fire, appropriate for a stone embodying the universal shape for love. Popular since the 1400's, it has been used for many types of pieces of jewelry, from simply sentimental to romantic alike.
No matter what the center, each stone cut is unique and brings something special to the ring it sits in. Whether sparkly or elegant, romantic or antique, a diamond's timelessness has remained steadfast over the centuries and will probably continue to do so for years to come.
Especially for You
How Our Custom CADs Turn Fantasies Into Reality What's the only thing better than having something that you absolutely love because it's everything you wanted? Why, being the only one on Earth who has it of course. And that's exactly what we make possible with our custom CAD designers.
It all starts with an idea. Maybe you saw an amazing ring somewhere but you'd tweak a few things about it. Or perhaps you have this mental picture of a ring you'd love to have but can't find anything like it anywhere you look. That's where we come in.
Our designers are adept at composition, jewelry knowledge and working with customers to make sure they get exactly what they want. Multiple kinds of stones in the ring? No problem! Different colors of metal to create a multi-tone look? Child's play! Intricate antique-style design all along the head and shank? We've got you covered there too!
We'll also give you some gentle advice if we think there is something that would make the ring extra spectacular or if the design needs some additions to make the mounting feasible. But, in the end, it's all about what will make YOU happy.
Once the design of the ring is sketched out, it's off to the CAD room where our designers make a 3D computer image of the ring. This rendering is then turned into a wax sample that the customer can try on and see if it's how they want it. Once we get the green light, the fun part starts! We mold it, cast it and then carefully set and engrave the ring by hand, ensuring it comes out perfectly. Every ring you see here has been specially made for a customer of ours based on their vision and desires.
The entire process of most custom jobs take a little over a month depending on the complexity of the ring. We can even put together a preliminary quote for you, just so you can see how much it would cost and how long production would take. The only limits to what we can create are those of your imagination.
So if you have an idea that you want to turn into something tangible or even if you're simply curious to see how easy it would be to make your dream ring, drop by your favorite Timeless Designs retailer and ask how you can get started on making your own gorgeous unique piece!
It all starts with an idea. Maybe you saw an amazing ring somewhere but you'd tweak a few things about it. Or perhaps you have this mental picture of a ring you'd love to have but can't find anything like it anywhere you look. That's where we come in.
Our designers are adept at composition, jewelry knowledge and working with customers to make sure they get exactly what they want. Multiple kinds of stones in the ring? No problem! Different colors of metal to create a multi-tone look? Child's play! Intricate antique-style design all along the head and shank? We've got you covered there too!
We'll also give you some gentle advice if we think there is something that would make the ring extra spectacular or if the design needs some additions to make the mounting feasible. But, in the end, it's all about what will make YOU happy.
Once the design of the ring is sketched out, it's off to the CAD room where our designers make a 3D computer image of the ring. This rendering is then turned into a wax sample that the customer can try on and see if it's how they want it. Once we get the green light, the fun part starts! We mold it, cast it and then carefully set and engrave the ring by hand, ensuring it comes out perfectly. Every ring you see here has been specially made for a customer of ours based on their vision and desires.
The entire process of most custom jobs take a little over a month depending on the complexity of the ring. We can even put together a preliminary quote for you, just so you can see how much it would cost and how long production would take. The only limits to what we can create are those of your imagination.
So if you have an idea that you want to turn into something tangible or even if you're simply curious to see how easy it would be to make your dream ring, drop by your favorite Timeless Designs retailer and ask how you can get started on making your own gorgeous unique piece!
