Loose Diamonds are becoming a very popular gift this year. A diamond represents eternal love and men are discovering that the diamond is often more important than the ring. The latest trend in jewelry is for women to design their own diamond rings, pendants and earrings.

With the expansion of e-commerce it is almost impossible not to be able to find what you are looking for on the internet. Loose diamonds have become a popular gift because they can be found at wholesale prices.

We have compiled some of the best information on loose diamonds, so that you can be informed when making your first purchase.

Princess

A real princess cut diamond is always square or rectangular, and incorporates many facets. Classic princess cut loose diamonds have 76 facets, and the multiple surfaces help reflect the light and create the princess cut's beautiful shine. Today there are many variations of the princess cut, some having as little as 50 facets, while others as intricate as 144 facets. Traditionalists believe that the "perfect" loose princess cut diamond must have a proportion of 1:1 length to width-in other words, a symmetrical square. But there are many stones that take on a more rectangular dimension, with ratios of 1 to 1.15. Another advantage of the princess diamond cut is that it can help compensate for stones that have less-than-perfect clarity or color. It can be used to hide inclusions, or hints of yellowish or brownish streaks. However, one of the weaknesses of the princess cut is the fragile corners, which can be vulnerable to chipping.

Round

A round diamond is actually shaped like a cone, with a curved top (known among jewelers as "the crown") that expands to a wider base, and then tapers downwards to a sharp point. This design was developed in the 17th century by Ambassador Julian Cardinal Mazarin (in fact, the first round brilliants were called Mazarins). To create maximum shine, he shaped the diamond to have 17 flat surfaces, called facets, which would reflect light from all sides. Another noted jeweler, Vincent Peruzzi, introduced 33 facets. But it was Marcel Tolkowsky who was able to devise a precise and thorough mathematical model for Mazarin's design. Using geometrical calculations, he discovered that a 58-facet cut would create the maximum amount of brilliance, and then identified the perfect proportions of the crown, diameter and base.