The princess cut is the second most commonly used method to cut a diamond or other gemstone into a certain shape. The most common form is the round brilliant cut. The upper side of a gemstone, which is available for the princess cut, is brought into a square basic shape, unlike the brilliant, where it is round. This square top is the hallmark of the cardinal cut that is applied to the top of a stone in a princess cut. In addition to the square cross-section, the star-shaped cut is a characteristic feature of the cardinal cut. In the star cut, the facets run from the roundup to the centre, forming a star-shaped pattern. In the cardinal cut, this is the so-called double star. The underside of the gemstone at the princess cut is provided with a fan cut. The facets are cut from the inside to the outside or vice versa. All in all, the princess cut consists of two different cut shapes, the cardinal cut on the top and the fan cut on the bottom. This is why the princess cut is also referred to as a mixed cut. Diamonds cut in this way are often found as a central element on rings, especially engagement rings.
