Pear Shaped Diamond

What is Pear Shaped Diamond?

The pear cut diamond is uniquely distinct among the diamond cuts with its soft feminine curve and statement point. Also referred to as ‘teardrop’ or ‘pendeloque’, this historical diamond cut is one of the most brilliant available and among the highly sought-after fancy cuts for engagement rings in Melbourne.

History

In 1456, master diamond cutter Lodewyk van Bercken created the revolutionary scaife machine – a wheel that cuts and polishes diamonds with extreme precision and accuracy. This led him to discover the concept of symmetry and facet placement within a diamond, unlocking the true beauty of diamonds by optimising light performance.

The famous van Bercken polished some of the world's largest and most precious royal diamonds. In 1475, van Bercken created the first pear cut diamond, and this became the most unique creation of the era.

Features

This illustration shows the different views of a pear cut diamond.

The pear cut diamond resembles a glistening water droplet. This cut is a combination of the marquise and round brilliant cut and has approximately 8% more surface area than the round. The pear cut diamond holds the same fire, brilliance and light symmetry of the round brilliant cut while also being modest in price by comparison. These benefits make the pear cut diamond a favourable choice for engagement rings.

Getting to know the characteristics of a pear cut diamond is essential while shopping for your diamond engagement ring. For the perfect pear, the shoulders should form gently softened arches and flow seamlessly to the point.

A pear cut diamond has many facets at the head and point of the diamond that help to conceal inclusions. As the placement and visibility of these inclusions will affect the value and performance of your diamond, our experienced Janai diamond expert will assist you in picking the perfect pear.

Pear cut diamonds are well known for their ability to retain colour, making a particularly popular choice among coloured diamonds. For this reason, when selecting a white diamond, it is ideal to choose a high colour grade between ‘near colourless’ and ‘colourless’. Depending on the cut and facet placement, the colour may be concentrated to one end, therefore it is recommended you seek assistance from an experienced diamond expert to assist you in selecting an even coloured pear.

Something to consider when shopping for your pear cut diamond is its length to width ratio as this will change the proportion of the diamond. Due to the high demands of the pear cut diamond, the market is saturated with those of inferior cuts. In fact, it’s rare to come by a pear cut with balanced proportions and excellent fire and brilliance. So, when you do come across the perfect pear, you’ll instantly appreciate its true beauty.

With access to the largest range of diamonds, your Janai consultant will assist you to find the perfect pear that meets your criteria and has the best value for money.

This illustration shows the different pear cut diamond ratios that are available.

The diamond ratio is an element to consider when choosing a pear cut diamond. The ratio is found by dividing the length by the width and can alter its appearance to look more slim or broad. The most popular ratio for a pear cut diamond is between 1.45 to 1.75, but many experts prefer a ratio that lies between the range of 1.50 to 1.71. However, it is best you let your heart and eyes guide you in choosing the perfect ratio for you.

The uneven outline of this pear shape reveals the asymmetry of its shoulders, belly and wings. You might want to avoid a diamond cut like this. Illustration: GIA

The symmetry is a key contributor to the overall beauty of not only your pear cut diamond but also all those of fancy shapes. To easily determine whether your pear cut diamond is symmetrical, draw an imaginary line down the length of your diamond and examine the two halves - the more closely it resembles a mirror, the more symmetry!

Can a pear cut diamond have a bowtie?

Yes. A bowtie is a dark bow-like shape through the centre of a diamond and like all elongated shapes, a pear cut diamond is susceptible to a bowtie effect when cut poorly. The craftsmanship behind a pear cut diamond is of such high importance as misaligned facets can create this bowtie effect. However, please be careful to not mistake a bowtie from a general shadow in the diamond.

These pear shaped diamonds display a bow-tie effect, the dark area that extends across the width of each stone. Photo: Nicholas DelRe/GIA

Conclusion

When selecting an engagement ring, it is important to consider the craftsmanship of not only the ring but the diamond itself. This can make a considerable difference in the light performance and quality of the diamond regardless of the 4C’s gradings. 

At Janai, we will take the utmost care to provide you the knowledge to confidently select a diamond with premium craftsmanship, but also the promise of flawless aftercare service including lifetime complimentary cleaning and inspection.

Book your appointment today to begin Your Janai Journey.