Hexagon Cut Cubic Zirconia: Pros, Cons & Light Return

Our hexagon has 37 facets: a step-cut crown over a tiered pavilion, on a six-sided outline 1.155 to 1 and 61.0% deep, with a 29.26° pavilion angle.

We set it against the T73 in CZ and against the same hexagon in diamond. Each score counts once, against whichever baseline differs more, and for every score but weight that is the T73.

Is a hexagon cut a good choice in cubic zirconia? Pros and cons

Pros

None that count: its high Tilt comes with far less light, and the rest trail the T73 or tie.

Cons

Heavier than a diamond hexagon 2.12 vs 1.29 ct
About two-thirds of the T73's light 64 vs 98
Fewer flashes than a round 56 vs 80
A fifth of its light leaks 21 vs 1

Compared with the T73 Round Brilliant in cubic zirconia and with the Hexagon Cut in diamond. A difference counts from 3 points (Brilliance, Fire, Tilt, Leakage), 5 (Scintillation, Symmetry), 4% (face-up size per carat) or 5% (weight); Tilt counts as a pro only for a stone within 5 points of the brilliance it is compared with. How we measure.

All eight scores against the T73

At a glance: the Hexagon Cut in cubic zirconia (white) against the T73 Round Brilliant in cubic zirconia (dashed): solid white where it reaches further, hatched where it falls short. Each pro and con is explained, with pictures, below.

Against the T73 Round Brilliant in cubic zirconia: ahead on 1, level on 2, behind on 5.

Global78, the comparison 93, difference −15
Brilliance64, the comparison 98, difference −34
Fire84, the comparison 87, difference −3
Scintillation56, the comparison 80, difference −24
Spread100, the comparison 100, difference 0
Symmetry100, the comparison 100, difference 0
Shape-norm84, the comparison 106, difference −22
Tilt100, the comparison 87, difference +13

Face-up light census, a different measure from the Cut Grading Tool; Spread and Shape-norm above 100 sit on the ring. Spread is the census's estimate from depth alone; the face-up size in the pros and cons is measured from each model's outline.

Open it in the Cut Performance Wheel

What the hexagon gives cubic zirconia

Nothing on the hexagon clears our bar for a pro. The one score above the T73 is Tilt, 100 against 87. Tilt is the share of its own face-up light a stone keeps at 20°, and we count it only when the stone returns nearly as much light as its baseline; at 64 against 98, the hexagon does not. Against the diamond hexagon, CZ returns more light, 64 against 58, but the gap to the T73 is the larger one. What it offers is the outline: six sides that tile in clusters and bands.

The catch with a hexagon CZ

Heavier than a diamond hexagon

2.12 ct at 6.5 mm, against 1.29 ct for the same cut in diamond (+65%)

2.12 ct at 6.5 mm across in CZ, 1.29 ct in diamond. CZ's specific gravity, about 5.8 against diamond's 3.52, explains all of it.

A Hexagon Cut 6.5 mm across, weighed from the model's measured volume and each stone's specific gravity.

What helps: Order it by size in millimetres.

Try it yourself: Weights in all seven gemstones on the Hexagon Cut page

About two-thirds of the T73's light

Brilliance 64 against 98 for the T73 Round Brilliant in cubic zirconia: 34 points lower

The hexagon returns 64 in CZ against 98 for the T73. A step crown and a low pavilion angle send back less light than a brilliant's cone.

Hexagon cut in cubic zirconia face-up Light Return map: red, green and blue show where the light returns from, grey shows where it leaks (Brilliance 64) — Red, green and blue = light returning to the eye; grey = light leaving through the pavilion. This is the head-on view; the Brilliance score averages a wider cone of light, so the score can differ from what one picture shows.

T73 round brilliant in cubic zirconia face-up Light Return map: red, green and blue show where the light returns from, grey shows where it leaks (Brilliance 98) — Red, green and blue = light returning to the eye; grey = light leaving through the pavilion. This is the head-on view; the Brilliance score averages a wider cone of light, so the score can differ from what one picture shows.

What helps: Our Octagon Cut Cubic Zirconia carries the same tier profile on eight sides and returns 76. For light first, DG-Miliano Cubic Zirconia (97).

Try it yourself: Open this Light Return map in the simulator

Fewer flashes than a round

Scintillation 56 against 80 for the T73 Round Brilliant in cubic zirconia: 24 points lower

37 facets against 73 on the T73: the hexagon scores 56, level with the diamond hexagon and well under the round's 80.

Hexagon Cut · 37 facets · Scintillation 56

T73 Round Brilliant · 73 facets · Scintillation 80

Scintillation follows the number of facets: more facets, more and smaller flashes as the stone moves. Count the facets in each crown. Drawn from each cut's own model.

What helps: The facet plan sets this. The Octagon Cut Cubic Zirconia scores 66 with more facets on the same profile.

Try it yourself: Compare the Scintillation spoke in the Cut Performance Wheel

A fifth of its light leaks

Leakage 21 against 1 for the T73 Round Brilliant in cubic zirconia: 20 points higher

In our census 21% leaves through the pavilion, a little less than the diamond hexagon's 24% and far more than the T73's 1%.

Hexagon cut in cubic zirconia tilted 0 degrees: Light Return map, 20% of the face leaking — Each frame is the Light Return map with the stone tilted away from you by the angle shown; grey is light leaving through the pavilion. The share under each frame is that picture's own.

Hexagon cut in cubic zirconia tilted 10 degrees: Light Return map, 25% of the face leaking — Each frame is the Light Return map with the stone tilted away from you by the angle shown; grey is light leaving through the pavilion. The share under each frame is that picture's own.

What helps: We have not measured a steeper hexagon, so we make no promise for one. The Octagon Cut Cubic Zirconia leaks 16%.

Try it yourself: Tilt it yourself in the simulator's light map

Who a hexagon CZ suits

Choose the hexagon in CZ for its outline: clusters, bands and geometric designs where six sides matter more than the most light. In CZ it is a modest performer, and we would not pick it for light.

For the same stepped profile with more light, less leakage and more sparkle, the Octagon Cut Cubic Zirconia. For light above all, a round such as DG-Miliano Cubic Zirconia.

Hexagon Cut Cubic Zirconia: questions

Is a hexagon cut good for cubic zirconia?

For the shape, yes; for light, it trails a round: Brilliance 64 against 98, with 21% leakage.

Hexagon or octagon cut in CZ?

The octagon gives more light, 76 to 64, loses less through the back and sparkles more. The hexagon has a little more fire, 84 against 80.

Does a hexagon CZ have more fire than a diamond hexagon?

No, they are about level: 84 here, 85 in diamond. It is one of three cuts in our census where CZ shows no more fire than diamond.

What does a 6.5 mm hexagon CZ weigh?

2.12 ct, against 1.29 ct for the diamond hexagon.

Get the Hexagon Cut files

6 formatsMillimetresWatertight

Hexagon Cut 3D files

The Hexagon Cut as exact geometry: 37 planar facets, real-world scale, ready for CAD, rendering, printing and casting.

STEPExact faceted solid for CAD
3DMRhino, closed mesh on its own layer
STLWatertight mesh for printing and casting
OBJMesh for modelling and rendering
FBXBlender, 3ds Max, Maya, Cinema 4D, Unity, Unreal
GLBWeb, AR and quick previews

€9.99 · Personal useBuy the 3D files

GemCad96 index

Hexagon Cut cutting files

The Hexagon Cut as a faceting design: 31 + 6 girdles = 37 facets, 96 index, 6-fold mirror-image symmetry, ready for the machine.

.ascGemCad design file, 96 index gear
.csvTier table: angles, indices and cutting order
DiagramPrintable faceting diagram

€9.99 · Personal useBuy the cutting files

Questions before you buy? Email us.

More gemstones and cuts

Cubic Zirconia: optical properties and the top ten cuts · The Hexagon Cut: specifications, model and files

Hexagon Cut Cubic Zirconia: six sides, and less light than a round