Criss-Cut Diamonds: A Complete Guide

A criss-cut diamond is a diamond cut, recognised for its distinctive faceting pattern that creates a cross-hatched or “criss-cross” effect within the stone.

Unlike traditional step cuts such as emerald or Asscher, which feature long, linear facets, the criss-cut introduces intersecting facets that produce:

A soft, rhythmic brilliance
A sense of depth and movement
A refined, almost woven appearance

The result is a diamond that feels both structured and fluid, offering a contemporary interpretation of classic geometry.

Crisscut diamonds are specifically designed to look significantly larger than other diamond cuts of the same carat weight, offering exceptional visual impact without added cost.

Their shape features an elongated silhouette and broader table, which increases the surface area by up to 60% compared to traditional cuts like emerald or oval.

Crisscut diamonds stand out due to their increased number of precisely angled facets, which allow for superior light reflection compared to generic diamond cuts.

Traditional diamonds, such as standard emerald or cushion cuts, often have fewer facets and larger step patterns, which can limit their sparkle. In contrast, Crisscut diamonds utilize a crisscrossed faceting technique that disperses light more evenly across the surface, resulting in a visibly brighter and more radiant appearance.

The criss cut diamond is expertly crafted to maximise the stone’s brilliance, scintillation and light dispersion. To achieve this unique cut, triangular facets are applied to the steps in the pavilion of the diamond. The facets continually bounce light off one another, bringing mesmerising life to the diamond. The criss cut gives new dimension to the traditional emerald and baguette-shaped stones, by maximising fire and brilliance.

The criss cut diamond is more forgiving in clarity quality, which means that diamonds of a lower clarity grading can be used, without their inclusions being emphasised by the cut of the stone.

The beauty of the criss cut diamond lies in the various step-like facets that cross each other in a crisscross fashion. The criss cut diamond is elongated in shape with trimmed corners. It typically has 77 facets that appear crisscross in the diamond and the stone tends to be shallower than princess cut or emerald cut diamonds.

A criss cut diamond, equal in weight to a diamond of another cut, would typically appear larger, as its surface area (viewed from the top) will be larger. This is because it does not carry the added weight that other diamonds such as the princess cut, have in their depth. The criss cut is a shallower diamond, so a larger carat weight will have a direct impact on the size of its surface area. The crisscross fashion of the facets is also thought to give the impression of a larger stone.