Hearts & Arrows Diamonds – Are they worth it?

Hearts & Arrows diamonds are precision-cut diamonds that generally come with a premium price tag. These super-ideal cut diamonds can really stand out, but in some cases may not be worth the extra money. Knowing what to look for and what to avoid is the key if you’re in in the market for some extra brilliance.

Hearts & Arrows Diamonds

Hearts & Arrows diamonds are meticulously cut diamonds, most often in the round cut shape. If you look at enough diamonds, you’ll start to notice some interesting reflective patterns. Take a look at these three diamonds.

1) 1.54ct F VVS1 Astor Ideal cut on Blue Nile

2) 0.78ct I VS2 Excellent cut on James Allen (with well defined arrows)

3) 0.80ct J VS1 Excellent cut on James Allen (without well defined arrows) ~a poorly cut diamond~

In the first two, you can see a consistent starburst pattern of arrows. This is the hallmark of a well-cut round diamond. What you are seeing is the reflection of the crown of the diamond through the table facet.  In the third diamond, you can tell from the video that the depth and crown angle are off just by seeing the lack of an arrow pattern.

In the 80s someone in Japan developed a scope that, when looking at a diamond inverted, reveals hearts in between each of those arrows on the starburst. This is where the concept of Hearts & Arrows was born.

And how do you know you’re getting such a diamond? Apart from a photo, you need to look into the paperwork.

Reading about cut dimensions, proportions and grades is similar to reading the technical specs on a car. The bottom line is that most people don’t care about specific specs only focusing on the results. 99% of the people don’t care how much torque a car has. They just want to know that the car will accelerate to their satisfaction.

The same is true of diamonds. People don’t care how a 34.5 degree crown angle pairs with a 56% table. They just want to know that the diamond has fire and brilliance (put even more simply, that is sparkles). Take this stunning 1 carat diamond from Blue Nile’s Astor Collection for example. I can wax poetically about how great the 33.5 crown angle is for this diamond. Bottom line is the diamond is gorgeous.

You can easily look at a diamond and tell whether there is a noticeable yellow hue, or whether there is a garish inclusion. Brilliance though? That’s a tougher nut to crack. Sure you can notice if a diamond has spectacular brilliance or if its completely dead. But there is a wide range in between.

GIA (with their sliding scale grading based on the different proportions) and AGS (with their light performance grades) have made great strides in the last ten years. If you pick out a diamond with a GIA excellent cut grade or an AGS 0 grade, it’s a safe bet that the diamond has adequate brilliance. But that isn’t enough for everyone. Some people are looking for more. That “more” they usually turn to is “Hearts and Arrows” – sometimes referred to as “super ideal.”

Hearts and Arrows Diamonds – How Are They Special? 

Hearts and Arrows diamonds are special because they’re cut with high precision and exceptional craftsmanship. They’re taken from more rough material than other diamonds, making them more expensive and time-consuming to produce. 

Here are the main benefits of Hearts and Arrows diamonds:

• Craftsmanship: A diamond’s facets must be aligned in three dimensions for it to show a distinct Hearts and Arrows pattern. This precision can only be achieved by an expert diamond cutter who’s skilled and meticulous. 
• Light performance: The precise facet alignment forms a series of tiny mirrors that refract and reflect light back to your eyes. This helps the diamond have tremendous brilliance. 
• Optimal symmetry: Hearts and Arrows diamonds are aligned in three dimensions, giving them excellent symmetry. This differs from traditional symmetry listed on a lab report, but it helps maximize light reflection. 
• Uniqueness: Most diamonds don’t have an intricate pattern of arrows and hearts. A Hearts and Arrows diamond gives you a special diamond with a distinct character.

Why Are Hearts and Arrows So Expensive?

A diamond with exceptional qualities is always going to come with a higher price tag to match. 

In the case of Hearts and Arrows diamonds, they are created with a higher level of care, attention and craftsmanship than your average diamond, so it stands to reason that you’ll need to pay more.

These diamonds are also cut from more raw material, which again goes into the price and results in a higher cost for Hearts and Arrows over a regular diamond.

Do Hearts and Arrows Diamonds Appear Larger Than Non-Ideal Cut Diamonds?

Yes, Hearts and Arrows diamonds look larger than non-ideal cut round diamonds. They look bigger because they provide more brightness and brilliance across the diamond. The optical precision and symmetry allows light to interact better with the diamond’s facets. When you look at a non-ideal diamond—especially from afar—the darker middle and edges make it appear smaller. The increased light return causes a Hearts and Arrows diamond to seem more vivid—and therefore larger.

Hearts and Arrows Brilliance

The term brilliance is thrown around a lot in relation to diamonds, especially when we’re discussing its cut. Brilliance refers to the amount of white light that gets reflected back out from the diamond.

Diamonds with a high level of brilliance are almost always more desirable, as this is one aspect that gives the diamond its signature “sparkle”.

It’s pretty safe to say that there is a strong correlation between a diamond that exhibits hearts & arrows and a diamond that performs well in brilliance.  This is not a bulletproof distinction that helps you determine if a diamond is brilliant.

There are occasions where a diamond is superbly cut and is very brilliant, yet some of the hearts or arrows are subpar. Ultimately the diamond specs are the best way to analyze a diamond to determine how consistently brilliant (in all lighting scenarios) a diamond will be.

Hearts and Arrows Cause and Effect

You can expect Hearts and Arrows diamonds to be extremely well-proportioned, symmetrical, and in most cases exhibit a large amount of fire and brilliance.

It’s imperative for people to understand, however, that hearts & arrows do not cause a diamond to be brilliant. They are an effect of a perfectly proportioned round cut diamond. In some ways, it’s a side effect. Diamond cutters cut the diamond to specific dimensions in order to maximize brilliance. Those same characteristics also cause the aforementioned hearts & arrows in the classical round cut diamond.

Unfortunately, many companies develop gimmick modified cuts (rounds, or other shapes) where they manipulate the faceting of the diamond in order to have the same hearts & arrows effect. But, as I explained, the actual hearts and arrows are not what makes the diamond brilliant, its the perfectly brilliant cut that makes the hearts and arrows. For these branded cuts, hearts and arrows give you no indication whether the diamond is brilliant or not.

The main goal for most of these companies is not to provide a better cut, more brilliant diamond for the consumer. Their main priorities are to develop a gimmick (that gives them a unique marketing tool) and the ability to patent the cut (so you can’t go elsewhere, which lets them keep the price high). There are notable exceptions. I happen to love Brian Gavin’s Hearts and Arrows Cushion. But for the most part we recommend avoiding these products.

4 Tips for Finding a True “Hearts and Arrows” Diamond

There are plenty of Hearts and Arrows diamonds on the market, but they’re not all equal. Some vendors may try and trick you into a diamond that’s not truly a Hearts and Arrows diamond. 

To ensure you’re getting a genuine Hearts and Arrows diamond and one with optimal light performance, follow these 5 expert tips.

1. Look for good optical symmetry

The beauty and light performance of Hearts and Arrows diamonds comes from the incredible optical symmetry. When looking at the diamond, ensure that the hearts and v-tips are symmetrical. One side of a heart and the v-tip should be mirror images of each other. The v-shape patterns at the bottoms of the hearts should also be symmetrical. 

2. Count eight hearts and eight arrows

A true Hearts and Arrows diamond has exactly eight regularly shaped arrows and eight regularly shaped hearts. The shape designs—such as all the hearts—should be nearly identical to one another. Also, a single heart or arrow shouldn’t be more prominent than another.

3. Watch for alignment

The points of the arrows should align with the shafts around the hearts. The arrows’ heads and shafts should align as well. The tips of the arrows should form a uniform center. And the gaps between the hearts and v-shapes at the bottom should be equal.

4. Aim for unity

No diamond is perfect, and Hearts and Arrows diamonds aren’t any different. Rather than try to find a flawless diamond, focus on finding a diamond that looks great as a whole. It should be symmetrical, aligned and feature the hearts and arrows. Minor variations and defects will be present, and that’s OK. The goal is to find a Hearts and Arrows diamond that’s well-cut and has beautiful light performance. This stunning 1.02 Carat Round Cut from James Allen is an example of a gorgeous Hearts and Arrows diamond.

Hearts & Arrows and Branding

This fairly simple way to look at a diamond has attracted many companies to the idea of utilizing it for their brands. Unfortunately, those brands run the gamut from superbly cut to downright dubious. On the one hand you have the industry leaders when it comes to cut like Hearts on Fire and Blue Nile Astor. On the other hand, you can have some pretty poor claims of brilliance like the EGL Hearts and Arrows certificate.

Almost every company out there has a distinctive selection of “perfectly cut” diamonds. In my opinion, the overwhelming majority of these brands don’t live up to their brilliance hype. With rare exceptions, I don’t find these brands to be consistently or noticeably more brilliant than a typical excellent cut we select using our cut standards.

One exception we have found are Blue Nile’s Astor cut selection. Many of our readers have gravitated towards these diamonds and have been over the moon with their fire and brilliance. Over the last year, we have directed readers expressing interest in perfectly cut diamonds in Astor’s direction, and they have not disappointed.

Need Help Buying Hearts & Arrows Diamonds?

Evaluating diamonds takes time, practice, and knowing what to look for. If you’re unsure if a Hearts and Arrows diamond—or any diamond for that matter—is a good value, reach out to us. We’re happy to look at any diamonds and let you know our opinions. 

Because diamonds are a larger buy, we want readers to end up with something stunning. We’ll help you avoid vendors who are using marketing gimmicks to try and get you to buy a less than ideal diamond.

Brian Gavin Diamonds Brian Gavin is one of the leading experts in the world when it comes to diamond cut quality. His Signature diamonds are as close to perfection as you can come. Their brilliance is unparalleled.

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• Unsurpassed brilliance
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About the author

Michael Fried Mike Fried has over 25 years experience in the diamond industry working with Leo Schachter Diamonds, Moshe Namdar Diamonds, and joining The Diamond Pro in 2007. He is recognized as an industry expert and has been quoted in publications such as Us, People, Page Six, The Next Web and more.