An emerald-cut diamond is all about elegance and sophistication, with its sleek, rectangular shape and step-cut facets. Unlike brilliant cuts, which focus on maximizing sparkle, the emerald cut showcases the diamond’s clarity and size, with long, straight facets that create a hall-ofmirrors effect. The way the facets are arranged gives the diamond a distinct, understated beauty with a unique “flash” of light as you move it, rather than the intense sparkle of more brilliant cuts.

One of the key things to consider when choosing an emerald-cut diamond is clarity, since the large, open facets make any inclusions more noticeable. As a result, higher-clarity diamonds (like VS1 or above) tend to work best with this cut. The shape itself is often considered more vintage or Art Deco, but it can also work well in modern designs.