The French Cut Engagement Ring

If you were to think of a ‘French Cut’ diamond, you may consider that the diamond itself is sourced or processed in France. In fact, the term “French Cut” does not refer to the country of origin, rather it refers to the diamonds shape and design. A more unusual cut and one that is often not mentioned throughout traditional diamond guides, the French Cut has noticeable characteristics that make it completely unique. They are recognised by the typical “cross” the crown facets depict. French Cut stones are square or rectangular multifaceted stones and they are derived from making optimal use of dodecahedral diamond crystals.

Throughout this article we explore the term ‘French Cut’ not as a shape or cut of diamond but instead a particular design style, often used in engagement, wedding or eternity rings. This exceptional design is given the name ‘French Cut’ due to its similarity to the aforementioned French Cut diamond. This style, today, is one of our most popular engagement rings styles, with many choosing this design for its incredible sparkle and its vintage yet delicate appearance.

This style, surprisingly, was designed, created and manufactured in Britain, taking over 12 months to create the exquisite product you see today throughout our showrooms. Each facet is meticulously carved by a skilled jeweller with the upmost attention to detail. The elements, each hand-crafted and hand-chosen, are cut and polished to create clean and crisp lines, often referred to as ‘bright cutting’. Throughout our engagement ring settings, you will see an array of solitaire, halo and cluster choices, many of which are set with round brilliant, princess or a variety of cuts on either their halo, shoulders or both. This technique of setting is one that is often seen on a ring’s shoulders or the halo of a ring and is renowned for its ability to create the ultimate sparkle, often enhancing the colourless diamonds that they often surround.

This French Cut design is most often seen across our bridal ring collections, with coordinating suites or sets always available. The collections each include an array of different styles offering a beautiful selection of choice at each of our showrooms.

If you would like further information on diamond shapes or cuts, please visit either our Inside Prestons feature ‘Making The Cut’ or our Guide To Diamonds.