A fancy shape is any diamond outline other than round, such as oval, pear, marquise, cushion, princess or emerald.
In more detail
GIA gives fancy shapes no cut grade. IGI offers an optional fancy-shape cut grade from Excellent to Poor. Polish and symmetry must be Very Good or better, and the proportions must fit IGI's ranges for the shape. Then IGI checks for shape problems such as bow-ties, and a gemologist judges the light return.
On a grading report
Measurements read length × width × depth. No GIA cut grade line.
Related terms
- Round brilliant: A round brilliant is a round diamond with the brilliant facet plan. It has 33 crown and 24 pavilion facets: 57 in all, or 58 with a culet.
- Cut grade: The cut grade rates how well a diamond's proportions and finish work, from Excellent to Poor. GIA gives it only to standard round brilliants in the D-to-Z color range.
- Bow-tie: A bow-tie is a dark band across the belly of an oval, pear, marquise or other elongated stone. It is not an inclusion or a color: the facets there send little light back to the viewer.
- Length-to-width ratio: The length-to-width ratio of a fancy shape is its length divided by its width, both taken from the measurements.
- Oval cut: An oval cut is an elongated round: the brilliant facet plan stretched along one axis.