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A Criss-Cut diamond is a modified emerald/rectangular step cut with a distinctive crisscross faceting pattern added at the corners, giving noticeably more brilliance than a standard emerald cut while keeping the same clean rectangular silhouette. Guru Diam stocks 228 Criss-Cut diamonds on hand, IGI-certified, CVD lab-grown, from our New York Diamond District desk.
What is a criss-cut diamond?
A criss-cut starts from the same base as an emerald cut — a rectangular outline with cropped corners and broad, flat step-cut facets running down the pavilion — but breaks from it at the corners, where an additional crisscross pattern of small facets is cut in. That corner detail is what gives the shape its name and its function: a standard emerald cut relies entirely on its broad flat planes, producing wide, slow flashes of light (the “hall of mirrors” look) but relatively little sparkle. The crisscross corners on a criss-cut break up that flat geometry just enough to add real scintillation, without turning the stone into a full brilliant cut and losing the rectangular, architectural line that buyers choose an emerald-style shape for in the first place.
The result is a step-cut diamond that reads as more lively and forgiving of small inclusions than a pure emerald cut, while still photographing and setting like a classic rectangular stone. It’s recognized in the trade as its own named step-cut variant rather than a generic “fancy emerald,” and buyers searching for it are usually looking specifically for that added brilliance, not a substitute for a standard emerald cut.
Criss-Cut vs. standard Emerald Cut
| Spec | Criss-Cut | Standard Emerald Cut |
|---|---|---|
| Outline | Rectangular, cropped corners | Rectangular, cropped corners |
| Base faceting | Step-cut (broad, flat planes) | Step-cut (broad, flat planes) |
| Corner faceting | Added crisscross facet pattern | Plain step facets, no crisscross |
| Light behavior | Broad flashes plus added sparkle at the corners | Wide, slow flashes (“hall of mirrors”), minimal sparkle |
| Inclusion visibility | Somewhat more forgiving due to broken-up faceting | Highly visible — inclusions show clearly in the open table |
| Best for | Buyers who want the emerald silhouette with more brilliance | Buyers who want the purest, most architectural step-cut look |
Both shapes share the same core proportions and setting requirements, so choosing between them comes down entirely to how much sparkle the design calls for.
Certification and what to check
Guru Diam’s Criss-Cut inventory is CVD-grown and IGI-certified, with GIA certification available on request. A few things matter more here than on a standard emerald cut:
- Corner facet symmetry. The crisscross detail is the defining feature of the cut — confirm the corner faceting is even and symmetrical on both ends before committing to a stone.
- Length-to-width ratio. As with any elongated step cut, confirm the exact L:W measurements against the design, not just the shape name.
- Same-lab comparisons. Compare color and clarity grades from the same certifying lab when evaluating multiple stones — IGI and GIA grading isn’t directly interchangeable.
Sourcing Criss-Cut diamonds wholesale
Guru Diam carries Criss-Cut as IGI-certified CVD lab-grown inventory from our New York Diamond District desk and Los Angeles office, with real-time online inventory for trade accounts. In-stock pieces ship same-day from New York; a custom size or color outside current stock moves through CAD to a finished piece in 4–6 days.
Open a wholesale account at /signup and book time with a gemologist at /book-appointment to source Criss-Cut diamonds for a center-stone or side-stone project.
FAQ
What is a criss-cut diamond? A criss-cut is a modified emerald/rectangular step-cut diamond with an added crisscross facet pattern at the corners, giving more brilliance than a standard emerald cut while keeping the same rectangular silhouette.
How is a criss-cut different from a regular emerald cut? Both share the same rectangular outline and broad step-cut facets, but a criss-cut adds a crisscross pattern of small facets at the corners. That extra faceting produces more sparkle and can make small inclusions slightly less visible than they’d be in a standard emerald cut’s open table.
Is a criss-cut diamond a good alternative to an emerald cut for more sparkle? Yes. If a buyer likes the rectangular, architectural line of an emerald cut but wants more brilliance, criss-cut is built specifically to answer that — same silhouette, added scintillation from the corner faceting.
Are Criss-Cut diamonds certified? Guru Diam’s Criss-Cut inventory is CVD-grown and IGI-certified as standard, with GIA certification available on request for individual stones.
How fast can I get a Criss-Cut stone or a finished custom piece? In-stock pieces ship same-day from New York. Made-to-order cutting plus a finished custom piece (CAD to jewelry) runs 4–6 days from our New York and Los Angeles desks.
