Princess Cut
The princess cut is a square, brilliant-faceted diamond with sharp pointed corners and strong sparkle, known to GIA as a square modified brilliant.
The princess cut is a square or near-square diamond with pointed corners and a brilliant facet pattern. GIA lists it as a square modified brilliant. It gives a crisp, modern look with lively sparkle, and because it keeps more of the rough crystal than a round, it usually offers more size, or spread, for the price.
Look and facet pattern
Seen from above, the princess is a clean square with four sharp corners. Its brilliant-style facets, arranged in chevron patterns on the pavilion, throw off strong sparkle that rivals a round from the top while giving a distinctly contemporary, geometric outline. It became the most popular fancy shape for exactly this blend of sparkle and modern edge.
The pointed corners are its signature and its weak spot. They are the most vulnerable part of the stone and can chip if left exposed, so princess cuts are almost always set with protective prongs, often V-shaped claws, over each corner.
- Square outline with sharp, pointed corners
- Brilliant-cut facets for strong sparkle
- Modern, geometric alternative to the round
- Corners need protective prongs to avoid chipping
Value against the round brilliant
A princess is usually cheaper per carat than a round, and it retains more weight from the rough, so a given carat weight can look bigger or cost less. That value is a big part of its appeal for buyers who want a sizeable, sparkly stone on a set budget.
There are trade-offs to check. The corners and the open areas can show colour a little more than a round, so many buyers step up slightly on colour, and clarity should be eye-clean with no inclusions near the vulnerable corners. Since GIA gives no overall cut grade to the princess, judge it on proportions, symmetry and how it looks in images.
- The princess is a square, brilliant-faceted diamond with pointed corners.
- GIA classifies it as a square modified brilliant.
- It sparkles strongly and gives a modern, geometric look.
- It often costs less per carat and looks larger than a round.
- Its pointed corners need protective prong settings.
Princess Cut, in short.
Is a princess cut cheaper than a round?
Usually yes. The princess retains more of the rough crystal and is in lower demand than the round, so it costs less per carat and can look larger for the same weight.
Do princess cut diamonds chip easily?
The sharp corners are the vulnerable part and can chip if exposed. A good setting with protective prongs over each corner, often V-shaped, prevents this, so the shape is durable when set properly.
How sparkly is a princess cut?
Very. Its brilliant-style facets give strong sparkle that rivals a round when viewed from the top, though with a crisper, more geometric character rather than the round's soft even fire.
Related terms
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