Princess Cut Vintage Rings
When looking for a beautiful and unique every-day ring, engagement, or wedding ring, the princess cut vintage rings are a great choice. When I choose a gem, I consider the qualities that I believe are exquisite, such as the historical value and the sparkle. When deciding on which ring is right for you, you have a few options. You can look high and low for the perfect vintage ring, find the settling you like and ask a jeweler to add the diamond of your choice, or choose a newly crafted vintage-looking ring that rivals an original princess cut vintage ring. Whichever way you go, you are guaranteed to be happy if you choose the ring that looks perfect to you, and not what an appraiser, jeweler, or the general public tells you is "perfect."
What is a princess cut vintage ring exactly? It is a ring that has a square shaped gem, and was created over 50 years ago. While a brilliant, or round, cut gem is very popular, the princess cut is considered to be more unique. The shape chosen is really a matter of preference to the wearer, and either one will look fabulous. If you are considering a princess cut vintage ring, there are a few qualities to consider.
Grading of a Princess Cut Diamond
A gem laboratory has the task of grading the gem situated in a ring. A few of them considered to be more reputable appraisers include the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the European Gem Laboratories-USA (EGL-USA), the American Gem Society (AGSL), and the Accredited Gem Appraisers (AGA).
When grading a brilliant cut gem, there are very clear guidelines as to what is an ideal cut. However, there is not a consensus in the industry as to what makes an ideal princess cut diamond, so there is much variation in the grading. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) was not even rating the princess cut yet at the time of this writing.
Finding Princess Cut Vintage Rings
There are plenty of vintage rings available in the square shape. However, if you are looking specifically for a square princess cut diamond ring, then finding a true Princess Cut vintage rings may turn out to be a little more difficult. This is because the princess cut diamond that we know today is relatively new - it has only been around for a few decades. If you aren't concerned so much with how old the ring is, but rather the style of it, then you will find that there are many vintage style rings that have been beautifully made with a princess cut diamond.
Princess Cut Settings
Engineers know that a rounded corner is stronger than a sharp corner, because the stress is spread out across the radius. Because of this, a princess cut gem needs to have the prongs that hold the gem in place to be at the four corners, giving it strength and protection to keep the corners from chipping. The diamond can be angled in relation to the band, giving it a "diamond" appearance, or lined up with the band for a square look. Princess cut gems are often used to accent the primary gem, by being placed in rows or alongside the gem.
For a complete list of Vintage Princess Cut Rings