Flower Fancy Cut Diamond
In the mid-1990s, De Beers began promoting a series of five
fancy shapes. Commissioned by the diamond giant in an attempt to find a niche
for unusual rough and off colors, the suite of stones, known as the Flower Cuts,
was created by Gabi Tolkowsky in 1986. Each of the Flower Cuts - the Dahlia,
Fire-Rose, Marigold, Sunflower and Zinnia - is based on unconventional cutting
angles and dimensions. The cuts were designed to maximize the natural brilliance
and color of diamonds, and create desirability for stones that might have
otherwise been shunned. They are neither patented nor trademarked, as De Beers
wanted to allow anyone in the world to cut and sell them.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND CUTTING ISSUES
The Dahlia is an unconventional 12-sided oval shape with 63 facets. The cut,
most especially appealing in stronger colors, is specifically designed to
produce high yields from rough to polished. The Fire-Rose, also designed to
produce high yields, is usually made as a regular hexagonal shape, but the
faceting arrangements on the outside of the stone can also be applied to create
round, pear, marquise and even heart shapes.
The versatility of this 61-facet
design allows the cutter to adjust the shape in order to best suit the rough.
The Marigold is an octagonal shape best obtained from flat rough.
The 73facet
stone has a large table and shallow pavilion. The big table allows the fine
lines of the symmetrical faceting to show through. Promotional material from De
Beers notes that the Marigold, because of the flower it's named after, can be
attractively marketed in deeper colors, notably brown or gold.
The Sunflower is a cut designed to yield great brilliance.
The cut's 43 facets produce a variety of unusual, angular shapes. The cut
produces higher rough yields as well, and like the Fire-Rose, it can be modified
into different overall shapes, including the baguette, taper, marquise, pear or
heart shapes.
The Zinnia, a round fancy shape, produces enhanced fire from
an increased number of facets clustered at the base of the stone around the
culet. The shape has 65 facets with 40 clustered on the culet.
PRICING AND SUPPLY
The Flower Cuts are no longer being manufactured.
WHAT BUYERS SHOULD LOOK FOR
Look for the Flower Cuts suite as an unusual and affordable product line
that might appeal to anyone open to purchasing fancy-shape diamonds.