The unique look of the emerald cut diamond is created by the step cuts of its  and its large, open table. Instead of the sparkle of a brilliant-cut, emerald cut diamonds produce a hall-of-mirrors effect, with the interplay of light and dark planes. While some say the emerald cut is less fiery, the long lines and dramatic flashes of light give the emerald cut an undeniable elegant appeal. The shape was originally developed for the cutting of emeralds, thus the name. What makes this shape different is its pavilion, which is cut with rectangular facets to create a unique optical appearance. Due to its larger, open table, this shape highlights the clarity of a diamond. If you choose an emerald-cut with a lower clarity grade, such as SI, be sure to review the clarity plot on the diamond certificate. Emerald-cut diamonds can vary greatly in how rectangular they are. If you'd prefer an emerald cut with a squared outline, you may also want to look at an Asscher-cut diamond.