Heart-Shaped Diamonds: Symbolism, Beauty & Buying Tips

What Is a Heart-Shaped Diamond?

A heart-shaped diamond is a fancy cut gemstone crafted in the silhouette of a heart – essentially a modified brilliant cut with the same facet style as a round but in a romantic heart form. Thanks to its shape, the heart cut is widely regarded as the ultimate symbol of love and affection, making it a popular choice for sentimental jewelry gifts. This distinctive cut typically features 56–58 facets (similar to a round brilliant’s facet count) to maximize sparkle.

Because of the complexity of the shape, heart-cut diamonds are rarer than most other shapes – they make up only a tiny fraction of diamonds sold each year. In larger sizes especially, a well-cut heart diamond showcases an unmistakable heart outline visible to the naked eye. (Notably, diamond experts often recommend using at least a half-carat, and preferably ~1 carat or more, for a heart shape so that its form is clearly recognizable.) Overall, a perfectly cut heart diamond marries the brilliance of a round cut with a one-of-a-kind silhouette that immediately signifies romance.

Charm and Challenges of Heart-Shaped Diamonds

Heart-shaped diamonds have a special charm: their shape is an unabashedly romantic emblem, instantly conveying love. Many people choose a heart diamond for its unique, eye-catching look – it’s a stone that stands out in a crowd of round or square gems. The heart’s rarity also adds to its appeal; wearing a heart-cut diamond means you’ve chosen a less common, more distinctive option. In short, the shape itself can make a strong personal statement and often carries sentimental meaning for the wearer.

That said, there are also challenges and drawbacks to consider with heart cuts:

• Demanding Cut Precision: The beauty of a heart diamond “lies in its precise cut and proportions”. This shape requires perfect symmetry – each half of the heart must mirror the other. The two rounded lobes at the top should be identical, and the cleft (the notch between them) needs to be well-defined, not shallow or uneven. The pointed tip at the bottom should be sharp enough to create two distinct halves, rather than a rounded end. Any imperfection in symmetry or outline is very noticeable in a heart cut, making it one of the most challenging shapes to cut well.
  
  
• Slightly Less Sparkle than Rounds: While a well-cut heart can exhibit excellent brilliance, no shape outshines the classic round brilliant in overall fire and scintillation. Heart shapes often show a phenomenon called the “bow-tie” effect – a dark shadowy area across the center of the stone – to some degree in most stones. Cutters try to minimize this, but a moderate bow-tie is common in hearts and can reduce the light return if it’s too pronounced. In general, you might notice that a heart diamond doesn’t throw off quite as much fiery sparkle as a top-quality round of equal size. This is a trade-off for the unique shape.
  
  
• Limited Availability (Especially in Large Sizes): Because heart-cut diamonds are less in demand than popular shapes, finding the perfect heart can take more effort. Local jewelers may have few (if any) heart shapes in stock, and high-carat or top-quality hearts are even more scarce. In fact, heart shapes represent only a tiny fraction of diamonds on the market. This limited selection means you have fewer choices, particularly if you’re searching for a larger stone. (On the bright side, online retailers usually offer a wider inventory of heart-shaped diamonds, making it easier to locate one that meets your criteria.)
  
  

Tip: If you adore the romantic look of a heart diamond but want maximum sparkle and selection, consider browsing lab-grown heart diamonds. These offer identical beauty with greater availability in larger sizes – more on this below!

Quality Tips for Hearts – Choosing a Beautiful Stone

When shopping for a heart-shaped diamond, pay close attention to specific quality factors to ensure you get a stone that truly shines in this complex cut. Key tips include:

• Balanced Proportions (Length-to-Width Ratio): For the most pleasing heart shape, look for a length-to-width ratio close to 1.00 (nearly as wide as it is long). A classic heart has a roughly 1:1 ratio – too narrow (elongated) and it may look skinny or like a pear, too wide and it can appear squat. In practice, an ideal range is about 0.90–1.10 (with many experts preferring ~0.95–1.05) to retain a nice heart silhouette. Personal taste can vary: for example, some prefer slightly elongated hearts (up to 1.05) for pendants, or slightly wider shapes (down to ~0.85–0.90) for rings. But staying near 1.0 will ensure your diamond is unmistakably heart-shaped.
  
  
• Excellent Symmetry: Symmetry is critical in heart cuts. Check that the two lobes (top arches) are evenly rounded and equal in size, and that the stone’s halves are mirror images when you draw an imaginary line down the middle. The cleft at the top should be well-pronounced (a deep, V-shaped separation between the lobes) and the point at the bottom should be sharp enough to clearly divide the lobes, not overly rounded. Any imbalance – like one lobe larger, or an off-center point – will make the heart look lopsided. Inspect photos or videos of the diamond (most online vendors offer 360° views) to judge the shape. A top-quality heart will have an evenly curved outline with no wing or lobe unevenness.
  
  
• Watch for the “Bow-Tie”: As with many fancy shapes, heart diamonds often exhibit a bow-tie effect – a dark bow-tie-shaped area across the middle caused by light not reflecting back to the viewer. Almost all heart cuts have some bow-tie or slight shadowing, but the key is minimizing it. When evaluating a heart diamond, observe it from different angles and lighting; a mild bow-tie is acceptable (and generally unavoidable), but avoid stones where a large, dark bow-tie distracts from the brilliance. A well-cut heart will reflect plenty of light in its facets so that the bow-tie is less noticeable. Don’t hesitate to ask the vendor or check videos to assess this effect.
  
  
• Adequate Size for Shape: Choose a sufficient carat weight so that the heart shape is easily visible. As noted earlier, around 0.50 carats is a practical minimum, and ~1.0 carat or more is ideal for a heart diamond’s outline to be appreciated. Smaller hearts (under half-carat) tend to lose their defined look once set in prongs – the shape can be hard to make out at a glance. If you do opt for a petite heart stone, consider a setting that helps emphasize the shape (more on settings below). But in general, investing in a bit more size for a heart cut yields a much better visual payoff.
  
  

(Of course, also keep the usual 4Cs in mind: color and clarity tend to be a bit more forgiving in brilliant cuts like hearts – e.g. slight inclusions often hide in the sparkle – but you’ll still want a stone that’s eye-clean and white enough for your preferences. Focus first on cut and shape appeal, then choose the best color/clarity within your budget.)

Are Heart Diamonds Affordable?

Yes – in fact, heart-shaped diamonds are often more affordable than other cuts, especially compared to the ubiquitous round brilliant. Due to a combination of lower demand and cutting specifics, heart shapes tend to cost about 15–20% less than an equivalent round diamond of the same carat and quality. This price difference means you can typically “get a larger diamond if you opt for a heart shape over a round brilliant cut” for the same budget. In other words, a heart diamond offers a bit more bang-for-your-buck in terms of carat weight – a great perk if you love the look of a bigger stone without the higher price tag.

To illustrate, one diamond industry guide notes that a one-carat heart cut might be thousands of dollars cheaper than a one-carat round of identical grade. The heart shape’s pricing is advantageous partly because round cuts are so popular (high demand keeps rounds pricey), whereas fancy shapes like hearts occupy a niche market. Additionally, a heart cut can use more of the rough diamond crystal’s weight than a round, making it a “more cost effective choice” in terms of material utilization. All this translates to savings for the buyer.

Lab-Grown Heart Diamonds – Even Greater Value: If budget and size are top considerations, lab-created heart-shaped diamonds provide an excellent opportunity to maximize value. Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds grown in a controlled environment, and they are chemically and visually identical to mined ones – the only difference is origin (and price!). For heart cuts in particular, choosing lab-grown can save a substantial amount: estimates suggest lab-grown heart diamonds may be anywhere from 30% up to 80% less expensive than their mined counterparts. That means you could afford a significantly larger or higher-quality heart-shaped stone by going lab-grown, all while staying within budget. Importantly, lab-created hearts are cut with the same precision (if not more, since the rough can be “made to order”) and will exhibit the same romantic shape and sparkle. You aren’t sacrificing anything in beauty – just paying less. For buyers who want a sizable, perfectly cut heart without the steep price premium, lab-grown diamonds are definitely worth considering. (As a bonus, they are conflict-free and eco-friendly, which many see as additional benefits.)

Best Uses & Settings for Heart-Shaped Diamonds

A 3-carat heart-shaped diamond in a solitaire ring. The heart cut’s unique silhouette is showcased by a tailored five-prong setting that secures the stone while emphasizing its shape.

Popular Uses: Thanks to their sentimental shape, heart-cut diamonds are often chosen for romantic jewelry pieces. One of the most popular uses is in pendants – a single heart-shaped diamond dangling from a necklace is a classic symbol of love, frequently given on Valentine’s Day or anniversaries. Heart engagement rings are another standout option for those who want to boldly express romance; although not as common as round or oval engagement stones, a heart-shaped center stone ring certainly makes a statement and has been worn by a few celebrities as a distinctive engagement ring choice. Promise rings or anniversary rings sometimes feature heart diamonds as well, given their association with love and devotion. Additionally, heart-shaped diamonds can be found in earrings or bracelets, but they truly shine as centerpieces (where their shape is easily seen). In summary, hearts are typically selected for sentimental, meaningful pieces – the shape itself conveys the message, so they work wonderfully whenever you want to celebrate love or affection.

Recommended Settings: Setting a heart-shaped diamond requires some extra thought to both protect the stone and show off its shape. The heart’s pointed tip is its most fragile part (prone to chipping if struck), so a good setting will guard that point. Many heart engagement rings use a specialized prong configuration – often five prongs in total: one prong securing each of the two lobes, a prong at the bottom point, and sometimes additional side prongs for stability. This five-prong solitaire setup holds the diamond snugly and protects the vulnerable point while leaving most of the outline visible (see image above). For smaller heart stones, even a three-prong setting (one prong on each lobe and one at the point) can be effective, as it keeps the setting minimal to preserve the heart outline.

Another popular option is a bezel setting, where a metal rim fully encircles the heart diamond. A bezel offers the maximum security – it completely shields the edges and point – making it very practical for daily-wear pendants or rings. The trade-off is that a full bezel covers the edge of the diamond all around, slightly obscuring the exact shape; however, a well-crafted bezel can be molded to the heart outline so the shape is still recognizable (and you gain peace of mind about protection). Some designs use a partial bezel or halo around a heart diamond as well, though care is taken to maintain the heart outline in the metal or arrangement of accent stones.

When choosing a ring setting for a heart, also consider the orientation and overall style. Most heart diamonds are set pointing downward (so it looks like a heart when you look at your hand), but in pendants the heart may face upright on the neckline – it’s largely a matter of design preference. Heart shapes pair nicely with solitaire settings to spotlight the outline, or with simple side stones (like tapered baguettes or smaller rounds) that accentuate without overpowering the center. You can also find hearts in more elaborate vintage-style mounts or creative “toi et moi” (you and me) rings where a heart diamond is set beside another stone, etc. – the possibilities are endless.

Bottom line: a heart-shaped diamond can be a stunning centerpiece in any piece of jewelry when it’s well-cut and set correctly. With its blend of sparkle and symbolic shape, it’s an ideal choice for those who want their jewelry to carry an extra message of love. By understanding the unique qualities of this cut – from symmetry and shape considerations to protective settings – you can confidently choose a heart-shaped diamond that will delight the eye and warm the heart for years to come.