How to choose a heart shaped diamond?

The heart, the most renowned symbol of love, makes it a popular choice not only as an engagement ring but also as an anniversary present, signifying the continuing passion and commitment to the relationship

Heart shaped diamonds, however, can vary a great deal in length and width. In this regard, when buying a Heart Shaped diamond it is first important to decide how you aim to set it

For example, should you wish to set it on a pendant, it is important to go for a heart diamond with a narrower shape and, if set on a ring, then a wider shape. To understand whether the heart shape you plan to buy is narrow or wide you must calculate the length to width ratio.

This is very straightforward to calculate. You take the length of the diamond and divide it with the width of the diamond (length/width) which we have highlighted for you on the certificate.

For a heart with a narrow shape you must look for a ratio of approximately 1.05-1.15 and for a wider shaped heart approximately 0.85-1.00 will be perhaps most attractive

carat

Carat weight can appear differently across different diamond shapes such as round brilliant, princess, pear, oval, cushion, marquise, emerald, radiant or heart. A heart shaped diamond may have a higher carat weight without appearing larger and two diamonds of the same carat weight can vary in size if one is cut deeper than the other. In other words, it is important to note that carat weight does not necessarily denote size.

color

Color refers to the natural tint inherent in white diamonds. In nature, most white diamonds have a slight tint of yellow. The closer to being “colorless” a diamond is, the rarer it is. The industry standard for grading color is to evaluate each diamond against a master set and assign a letter grade from “D” (colorless) to “Z” (light yellow).

Since heart shaped diamonds tend to reflect a lot of light, when buying a heart diamond you can be a bit lenient with the colour you choose as it tends to show relatively less colour than many other fancy shaped diamonds.

clarity

Diamond clarity is a measure of the purity and rarity of the diamond, graded by the visibility of these characteristics under 10-power magnification. A diamond is graded as flawless if, under 10-power magnification, no inclusions (internal flaws) and no blemishes (external imperfections) are visible.

Choosing the clarity of the diamond for your ring is entirely down to personal preference. Some buyers are entirely indifferent to inclusions that are not visible to the naked eye and some buyers are interested in diamonds that are completely or near flawless.

Why is the polish for a Heart Diamond important?

The Diamond Polish refers to the finish done on the diamond’s surface after it has been cut. The facets of the cut diamond are polished so that it reflects and refracts optimal amount of light.

Why is the Symmetry for a Heart Diamond important?

With a heart shaped diamond a great deal of the appeal and final beauty of the diamond lies in the hands of the cutter and the polisher of the diamond.

The GIA very clearly emphasises that in Heart Shaped diamonds the symmetry and outline of the diamond is the key. They explain that the outline of the diamond must reflect a traditional heart shape.

In addition both the left and right side of the heart shape diamond must form a mirror image. Should you draw an imaginary line down the middle of the diamond both sides must match in size and shape

The role of Fluorescence in a Heart Diamond

Fluorescence is the propensity of a heart shaped diamond to emanate a (soft) glow when presented to Ultraviolet light (UV light). At the point when UV light hits a heart shaped diamond with fluorescent properties, the diamond emanates a glow. Regularly blue, it can likewise be shades of green, yellow, white or red. Fluorescence can happen in various forces. Gemological labs like the GIA rate diamond fluorescence on a scale from "None" to "Very Strong".