Princess Cut
Also called square modified brilliant
Princess cut is a square or near square diamond cut with sharp uncut corners and a brilliant style facet pattern underneath. It keeps more of the rough crystal than a round does, which is why a princess often costs less per carat.
What defines the shape
The outline is square, usually with a length to width ratio close to 1.00, and the pavilion is cut in chevron shaped sections that give the stone its distinct cross pattern face up.
The corners are the weak point. They are sharp and unprotected, so princess cuts are almost always set with V shaped prongs that cover each corner.
Getting it right in the render
Two things give away a bad princess render: corners that look rounded, and prongs that do not properly wrap the points. Both make the piece look unsettable to anyone in the trade.
We render the corner prongs as they would actually be cast, so what you show a customer is what the factory can produce. If your CAD uses round prongs on a princess head, we will flag it before rendering rather than quietly fix it.
Questions about Princess Cut
Is a princess cut cheaper than a round?
Usually yes per carat, because cutting a square from the rough crystal wastes less material than cutting a round.
Do princess cut diamonds chip?
The pointed corners are the vulnerable part, which is why they are set under V prongs or in a bezel that shields them.