Rose Cut Diamonds

Rose Cut Diamonds

Rose Cut diamonds are rarely seen nowadays, though they are starting to make a comeback. They can mostly be found today in antique jewelry, but some cutters are cutting rose cuts again, albeit still in small numbers.

Rose Cut diamonds were first introduced in the early 1500s, though some say they were around even as early as the 1300s, and lost popularity in the early 1900s. The source of the Rose Cut is also under dispute, as some say the cut originated in India and some say Holland.

What is the Rose Cut?

A diamond cut refers to the shaping of a diamond with the “symmetrical arrangement of facets”. Facets are geometrical shapes, which are cut into gemstones, to improve their look and to facilitate reflection of light, as well as to giving a general shape to the diamond, such as a round, princess, cushion, etc..

A typical rose cut diamond has a unique shape and facet arrangement. It has a flat

Rose Cut Diamond

bottom and an elevated pointed dome with triangular facets forming a point. The dome is generally in the shape of a hemisphere or pyramid. The number of triangular facets in a rose cut diamond may vary between 12 to 24.

Generally it has a lower tier of triangular facets which in combination with the upper tier, gives the look of a rose bud. The facets in the upper tier are called star facets and the ones in the lower tier are known as the diagonal facets. Usually, the middle portion of a rose cut diamond has six triangular facets, which meet at a point in the center. The outline of this diamond is usually circular but there are oval, hexagonal and pear-shaped domes. The facet arrangement in rose cut diamonds are usually in multiples of six.

Rose cut diamonds have flat bottoms without the distinctive tapering body; instead, the crown of the diamond is elevated in a faceted dome where anywhere from three to 24 triangular facets are used to mimic the progressively tighter spiral of a rose. As these come together, they reflect the central focal point of a rose bud.

Now, the Rose Cut lost its flourish eventually because it’s got a serious flaw. The rose cut “leaks light”. Diamonds, are normally cut in such a way that they seem to emit an internal light, a trait known as “fire and brilliance”. Rose cuts don’t do this – instead, they reflect light that is coming in from around them.

Rose cuts are cut in such a way that they maximize a stone’s carat weight, but this gives them more risk of being flawed in their facets. While this trait can be used to cover up a flaw, it can also distort the color of the stone. Jewelers have used thin gold, silver, or foil backings to enhance the appearance of “fire and brilliance” in rose cut stones.

Rose Cut diamonds require extra care. As the Table of the diamond protrudes out in the shape of a dome, it is possible that it can be damaged or chipped along the facet points. The setting of rose cut diamonds are often very delicate and needs careful handling. Usually the settings used for these diamonds are prong, bezel and flush. Above all, most of the rose cut diamonds are part of antique jewelery.

This style of cut can increase the carat weight of the diamond, which in turn can dull the brilliance. Rose cut diamonds reflect the light from outside and there is no refraction of inner glitter. Nevertheless, there is a revival in the demand for rose cut diamonds and both old ones and the new ones are available now. You can differentiate the older ones by their irregular shape and knife-edge girdle. The new rose cut diamonds are more calibrated (cut to exact sizes) and most of them have their origin in India.

The Rose Cut diamonds are very difficult to find. They have been out of style for a very long time, and the demand is very low.

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