Triangle Cut Cubic Zirconia: more fire than a diamond triangle

Brilliance 54 · Fire 94 · Scintillation 34 · in our census, where the T73 scores 98 · 87 · 80 in cubic zirconia

The fewest facets in our census, 19. In CZ the triangle turns a larger share of its light into colour than both the diamond triangle and the T73, and sparkles less than any other cut we measure in CZ.

See it in the simulatorGet the files
The Triangle Cut in cubic zirconia, rendered at an angle in our 3D Gemstone Simulator under studio light
Rendered in our 3D Gemstone Simulator from the Triangle Cut model, 1.00 ct, studio light.

Triangle Cut Cubic Zirconia

Our triangle is an equilateral cut with two crown tiers over three pavilion tiers: 19 facets, the fewest of any cut in our CZ census. It has a 60.0% table, a 35.3° crown and a 41.76° pavilion, and is 55.4% deep.

One pro and five cons; we show the four largest. The pro is fire, and it is a strong one. Sparkle suffers from so few facets, light and leakage trail the T73, and it faces up smaller for its weight than any cut we measure (89 against 100).

Is a triangle cut any good in cubic zirconia? Pros and cons

Pros

Cons

Compared with the T73 Round Brilliant in cubic zirconia and with the Triangle 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 Triangle 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.

Performance wheel: Triangle Cut in cubic zirconia, against the T73 Round Brilliant in cubic zirconia as an outline. Solid white marks where it reaches further, hatching where it falls short. The scores are listed below.50100Global−20Brilliance−44Fire+7Scintillation−46Spread+4Symmetry0Shape-norm−35Tilt+5

Against the T73 Round Brilliant in cubic zirconia: ahead on 3, level on 1, behind on 4.

  • Global73, the comparison 93, difference −20
  • Brilliance54, the comparison 98, difference −44
  • Fire94, the comparison 87, difference +7
  • Scintillation34, the comparison 80, difference −46
  • Spread104, the comparison 100, difference +4
  • Symmetry100, the comparison 100, difference 0
  • Shape-norm71, the comparison 106, difference −35
  • Tilt92, the comparison 87, difference +5
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 triangle gives cubic zirconia

More fire than the diamond triangle

Fire 94 against 86 for the Triangle Cut in diamond: 8 points higher

In CZ the same model scores above the diamond triangle, and above the T73 in CZ as well, which scores 87. Only three cuts in our CZ census score higher, and the trilliant ties it.

Triangle cut in cubic zirconia face-up under a single bright light: a render from our simulator, its coloured flashes are the fire (score 94)

Triangle Cut in cubic zirconia · Fire 94

Triangle cut in diamond face-up under a single bright light: a render from our simulator, its coloured flashes are the fire (score 86)

Triangle Cut in diamond · Fire 86

Look at the coloured flashes: those are fire. Same light, same size, same face-up angle; rendered by our 3D Gemstone Simulator from each cut's own model.

Try it yourself: See the fire in the 3D Gemstone Simulator

The catch with a triangle CZ

Heavier than diamond

1.30 ct at 6.5 mm, against 0.79 ct for the same cut in diamond (+65%)

A triangle 6.5 mm wide weighs 1.30 ct in CZ and 0.79 ct in diamond. The 65% gap is CZ's density, about 5.8 against diamond's 3.52.

Cubic Zirconia1.30 ctDiamond0.79 ct
A Triangle Cut 6.5 mm across, weighed from the model's measured volume and each stone's specific gravity.

What helps: Specify it in millimetres.

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

The least sparkle we measure in CZ

Scintillation 34 against 80 for the T73 Round Brilliant in cubic zirconia: 46 points lower

With 19 facets to the T73's 73, our scintillation score, which follows the count, stays low. No cut in our CZ census scores lower.

Triangle Cut · 19 facets · Scintillation 34

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: Angles cannot add facets. The Trilliant Cut Cubic Zirconia keeps three sides and scores 79.

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

Little more than half the T73's light

Brilliance 54 against 98 for the T73 Round Brilliant in cubic zirconia: 44 points lower

The triangle returns 54 in CZ and 53 in diamond, so CZ is not what holds it back. The T73 returns 98.

Triangle 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 54)

Triangle Cut in cubic zirconia · Brilliance 54

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)

T73 Round Brilliant in cubic zirconia · 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: The Trilliant Cut Cubic Zirconia returns 84 in CZ with a three-sided outline.

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

More than a quarter of the light leaks

Leakage 27 against 1 for the T73 Round Brilliant in cubic zirconia: 26 points higher

27% leaves through the back in our census against 1% for the T73. At 41.76° the pavilion is above the 38.1° guide we give for round designs, so we do not suggest steepening it.

Triangle Cut in cubic zirconia · Leakage 27

Triangle cut in cubic zirconia tilted 0 degrees: Light Return map, 26% of the face leaking0° · 26% leak
Triangle cut in cubic zirconia tilted 10 degrees: Light Return map, 31% of the face leaking10° · 31% leak
Triangle cut in cubic zirconia tilted 20 degrees: Light Return map, 34% of the face leaking20° · 34% leak
Triangle cut in cubic zirconia tilted 30 degrees: Light Return map, 33% of the face leaking30° · 33% leak

T73 Round Brilliant in cubic zirconia · Leakage 1

T73 round brilliant in cubic zirconia tilted 0 degrees: Light Return map, 0% of the face leaking0° · 0% leak
T73 round brilliant in cubic zirconia tilted 10 degrees: Light Return map, 1% of the face leaking10° · 1% leak
T73 round brilliant in cubic zirconia tilted 20 degrees: Light Return map, 9% of the face leaking20° · 9% leak
T73 round brilliant in cubic zirconia tilted 30 degrees: Light Return map, 21% of the face leaking30° · 21% leak
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: A smaller triangle leaks the same share. The Trilliant Cut Cubic Zirconia leaks 11%.

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

Who a triangle CZ suits

Choose the triangle in CZ for a first faceting project or a bold geometric accent with plenty of colour. It is a weak stone for light and sparkle, and the figures say so.

For three sides with far more light and sparkle, the Trilliant Cut Cubic Zirconia. For light first, a round such as DG-Rafaello Cubic Zirconia.

Set beside a diamond triangle, the CZ returns the same light within a point and throws more colour, while the diamond tips a little more steadily (94 against 92).

Triangle Cut Cubic Zirconia: questions

Triangle or trilliant cut in CZ?

The trilliant: Brilliance 84 against 54, Scintillation 79 against 34, leakage 11% against 27%. Fire is level, 94 and 94.

Why does a triangle CZ sparkle so little?

It has 19 facets, the fewest we measure, and scores 34 for scintillation against 80 for the T73.

Does a triangle cut CZ have good fire?

Yes: 94, against 86 for the diamond triangle and 87 for the T73 in CZ.

Does a triangle CZ look big for its weight?

No, a little smaller than a round: Face-up size 89 against 100, the lowest in our census.

Get the Triangle Cut files

6 formatsMillimetresWatertight

Triangle Cut 3D files

The Triangle Cut as exact geometry: 19 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

Triangle Cut cutting files

The Triangle Cut as a faceting design: 16 + 3 girdles = 19 facets, 96 index, 3-fold 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 Triangle Cut: specifications, model and files

Other cuts in cubic zirconia

The Triangle Cut in other gemstones