Pear
shapes (sometimes called "teardrops"
or "tear shapes") are conspicuous
among the large-sized diamonds
currently being polished. This
shape looks larger than a round
of the same weight, and large diamond
crystals can be efficiently polished
as pear shapes. Large pear shapes
are often set as the center diamond
in necklaces and tiaras. A pear-shaped
diamond set in a tiara will sparkle
brilliantly with rainbow-colored
dispersion as the wearer moves,
and will be noticeable even from
a distance of 30 feet or more.
Diamonds possess considerable beauty
just as they are, but there is
no doubting the unmistakable beauty
that pear shapes exhibit when they
are viewed in motion.
About 80 percent of the large diamonds
seen at the auctions of Christie's
and Sotheby's are fancy shapes,
such as the rectangular emerald
cuts and old cushion shapes. Among
those, however, are many pear shapes
put up for sale in sizes of 10
carats to 30 carats. At auctions
such as these, diamond grading
reports accompany each diamond.
Although these reports serve as
a reference in understanding market
prices, there are substantial differences
in beauty among stones of the same
color and clarity grades. |
When purchasing
at an auction, it is therefore important
to get an expert opinion and to check
the pieces for yourself beforehand.
As with other shapes of diamonds,
the quality of a pear shape lies
in its high transparency, the balance
between its brilliance and multi-colored
dispersion, the quality of its overall
appearance, and the scintillation
seen as the stone moves. In practice,
diamond dealers will confirm beauty
through comparison with their on-hand
inventory or master stones. Since
appearances change depending on lighting,
always checking against comparison
stones is a critical step in confirming
beauty. The way to make the best
choice is to close attention to their
appearance, and to select the diamond
that you think is the most attractive. |
