Its character
Half oval, half marquise. Symmetry is the thing to check: the shoulders should mirror each other and the point should sit exactly on the long axis, since any drift is obvious once the stone is set. The point is also the most exposed part of the stone and is normally protected by the mount.
Where the pear cut comes from
Tradition credits the pear shape to Lodewyk van Berquem, a cutter in fifteenth-century Bruges who is also associated with early symmetrical faceting. Whatever its exact origin, the teardrop has been cut for centuries and appears in many historic jewels.
Several of the world's best-known large diamonds are pear shapes, partly because the shape can follow an irregular crystal and save weight that a round would lose.
How a pear is faceted
A pear usually has 56 to 58 brilliant facets, combining the rounded end of an oval with the point of a marquise. The pavilion facets meet along a long axis rather than at a central point.
Like other elongated brilliants, the pear can show a bow-tie across its widest part. The point is the stone's most exposed and fragile area.
Pear cut proportions
Ranges most well-cut pear stones fall within. They narrow the field; they do not replace seeing the stone.
| Measure | Typical range | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Table | 53 – 63% | |
| Depth | 58 – 64% | Deeper stones face up smaller. |
| Length to width | 1.45 – 1.75 | About 1.55 – 1.70 is the classic teardrop. |
| Girdle | Thin to slightly thick | Watch for very thin girdle at the point. |
| Culet | None | |
| Cut grade | Not graded | Neither GIA nor IGI assigns an overall cut grade to this shape, so these are trade ranges rather than a standard. |
What to look for in a pear diamond
A ratio of about 1.5 to 1.7 gives the traditional teardrop; below that the stone looks stubby, above it narrow. Check the shoulders and the belly for flat spots, and look for a bow-tie across the widest part. Worn point towards the fingertip it lengthens the hand, though point-up is just as valid.
- Symmetry along the axis
- Draw an imaginary line from the point through the centre of the rounded end. Both sides should match, and the point should sit exactly on that line.
- Shoulders and belly
- The shoulders beside the rounded end should be evenly curved, not flat or high. The widest part should not look bulging or straight-sided.
- Bow-tie
- Check across the widest part in a video or in person. No report grades it.
- The point
- Look for chips or an extremely thin girdle at the tip before the stone is set.
Setting a pear
A V-prong or bezel over the point protects it, with two or three prongs holding the rounded end. Pears are worn point toward the fingertip to lengthen the hand, but point-up is also common. They are a traditional choice for pendants and drop earrings.
Pear size by carat weight
Approximate face-up size at a typical pear ratio and depth, drawn to scale. Select a weight to see natural stock in that band.
5 mm. Every silhouette is drawn to this scale, at typical proportions.
- Natural pear diamonds, 0.25–0.49 ct, about 5.7 × 3.5 mm face up
- Natural pear diamonds, 0.50–0.74 ct, about 7.1 × 4.5 mm face up
- Natural pear diamonds, 0.75–0.99 ct, about 8.2 × 5.1 mm face up
- Natural pear diamonds, 1.00–1.49 ct, about 9.0 × 5.6 mm face up
- Natural pear diamonds, 1.50–1.99 ct, about 10.3 × 6.4 mm face up
- Natural pear diamonds, 2.00–2.99 ct, about 11.3 × 7.1 mm face up
- Natural pear diamonds, 3.00 ct and above, about 12.9 × 8.1 mm face up
Diamond carat guide: every shape, price milestones and choosing a weight
Terms used on this page
Each one is defined in full, with what a report prints for it, in the glossary.
- Bow-tie
- A dark band across the centre of an elongated stone, shaped like a bow-tie.
- Symmetry
- How precisely the facets line up with one another and with the outline.
- Length-to-width ratio
- The outline's proportions — length divided by width — which decides how a fancy shape reads.
- Brilliant cut
- A faceting style built from triangular and kite-shaped facets radiating from the centre.
- Chip
- A small shallow break at the girdle, a point or the culet.
- Girdle thickness
- How thick the band at the stone's widest point is, graded Extremely Thin to Extremely Thick.
Pear cut questions
What buyers ask most often before choosing a pear diamond.
What is the best ratio for a pear shaped diamond?
About 1.45 to 1.75 is typical, and most classic teardrops fall between 1.55 and 1.70. Lower ratios look short and wide; higher ones look narrow.
Which way should a pear diamond face on a ring?
Traditionally the point faces toward the fingertip, which lengthens the look of the hand. Point toward the wrist is also worn; it is purely a matter of preference.
Do pear shaped diamonds have a bow-tie?
Most do, across the widest part of the stone. A well-cut pear keeps it faint, but it is not graded, so it should be judged on the stone or on video.