What Does Diamond Accent Mean?

Last updated on September 1, 2024

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When it comes to diamond rings there are a whole host of terms you may hear thrown around with regards to the style and look of the piece. Some are simple to understand but some terms may need a little further explanation.

The term diamond accent for instance is commonly used but what exactly does it mean? In this article we are going to look at the term diamond accent and explain what it means. It is important to get to grips with terms like this so you know exactly what you want your diamond ring to be.

What Is a Diamond Accent?

The meaning of diamond accent is really quite simple; it actually refers to using smaller diamonds to go along with a larger main diamond as part of a jewelry set. This might be on a ring or as part of a necklace. The point being that the main diamond is accentuated by the addition of smaller gems to the sides.

A diamond accent then is intended to highlight the central stone and ideally make it look even more impressive. These accent diamonds are not necessarily the best looking gems in their own right but their presence elevates the main stone to the next level.

A solitaire diamond set is no doubt beautiful in its simplicity but adding an accent adds character, style and elegance as well as bringing a boost to the overall sparkle of the piece. Arguably diamond accents make an already fabulous diamond ring look that little bit more special.

You can choose to use the diamond accent in a number of ways but there is one golden rule when it comes to doing it correctly. If you have a real diamond as the central focus you must use real diamonds as the accent pieces as well. Fake diamonds will not achieve the intended goal and will stand out too starkly against the quality of a real diamond.

The reason all of the diamonds have to be real is because for them to truly accent they need to offer the same qualities as the main gem. Accent diamonds are of course smaller but will in other respects be similar to the main diamond especially when it comes to the three of the “4 C’s.” The carat will obviously be lower but cut quality, color and clarity should be as close as possible.

The Different Types of Diamond Accent

When it comes to diamond accent options you have three main types that are most commonly used. These are round diamonds, trillion cuts and baguettes. In this section we will take a closer look at these three styles to help you decide upon which may best suit your needs.

It should be noted that small examples of other common diamond shapes like emerald or princess cuts will be used but this is mainly in three-stone diamond ring settings where the accents are a little on the larger size.

Small Round Diamond Accents

This is the most common accent type because it uses the popular round diamond shape so prized for its ability to produce maximum sparkle. You can find this type used in three-stone diamond ring settings, pave settings and channel settings.

A large round brilliant central stone in a prong-held setting featuring a series of round diamonds in a pave setting has the potential to be truly astonishing. In this type of set up round diamonds will stand proud in the center of the ring setting receiving light from the sides and creating maximum sparkle not only from the main stone but also the accents.

Using the channel setting instead would still be impressive however the accent diamonds will be contained in a channel on the flanks either side of the main diamond. This channel will block light to the sides of the gems so you will not have quite as much sparkle potential.

Beyond engagement rings the round accent diamond shape works great in other forms of jewelry such as in bracelets and necklaces. In order to get the best results the aim is to have the accent diamonds to have the same number of facets as the main gem.

Accent diamonds such as these are generally on the small size and wouldn’t usually be used as a centerpiece gemstone in their own right. They are grouped into three main types with the stars weighing less than 0.02 carats. The next level up is known as full cuts which range between 0.02 – 0.07 carats. Finally you have the nearly diamonds which range from 0.08 – 0.18 carats

Baguette Diamond Accents

The baguette style diamond accents are hugely popular due to their classic appearance and appeal. They look fantastic in a row of accent diamonds making them great for adorning the flanks either side of a larger higher quality diamond.

Using baguette style accents creates a symmetry and a large table. Those in the know will of course be aware that the table size is vital for allowing the optimum amount of light into the gems to get the best brilliance from the gems.

These elongated diamonds tend to use stepped cuts similar to the emerald cut which can add a level of contrast to a quality piece of jewelry. This can really help the main diamond stand out in comparison making it the star of the piece while also elevating its properties.

It should be noted that like the emerald cut baguette cut accents are not known for their own independent brilliance. They may offer sudden flashes of brilliance but not a sustained sparkle. The baguette cut itself has two variations: the straights and the tapered versions.

Tapered baguettes are more rectangular with a slight tapering near the ends. They work best in three-stone settings or as side stones located on the rings' flanks. When it comes to the straight baguette it is essentially as close to rectangular in shape as you can get.

The beauty of the baguette accent is that they can compliment a variety of diamond shapes when used as a row of accents on the flanks or as an additional gemstone either side of the main diamond. Cuts like the marquise, round brilliant and Asscher cuts can be elevated to the next level using baguette accent diamonds.

Trillion-Cut Diamond Accents

You won't generally see a triangular main diamond on a piece of jewelry but you may see accents that bare a triangular shape. If you see this you are probably looking at trillion-cut diamond accents. These are commonly found as flanking stones either in a row on the flanks or as the smaller side diamonds for a three-stone setting ring.

Not prized for fantastic sparkle this unique shape is geared more towards drawing the eye in the direction of the main stone. Think of it as following the arrows. They are often designed to follow the natural curve of the flanks of the ring setting.

These types of accent diamonds look great with a radiant cut, cushion, cut, round brilliant cut and the princess cut. As these tend to be the naturally most sparkly shapes for diamonds the triangular shape of the accents help your eyes be drawn to those main gemstones.

Why Is It Important to Match the Stones?

It is no simple task to add accent diamonds to your ring because they are intended to elevate the central stone and this can be a delicate balance. Having chosen your central diamond you will need to find the right accent pieces that can bring something extra.

Rule number one is never have better quality diamonds for your accent gems than for the main stone. It may seem obvious but if your accent gems are better quality than your main gem it’s just not going to look right at all.

The main point of accents is to make the largest stone the star of the piece. You need side stones which will make the main gem look more impressive by comparison as well as add to the sense of quality.

Color is an important factor in this balancing act because clear diamonds can have yellowish coloring to varying degrees. The clearer a diamond is the better the quality so if you have bought a fairly colorless main diamond you do not want the accents to be more colorless.

The ideal situation would see the diamond accents be of one color grade lower than the main diamond. Despite the fact that sometimes color is hard to see in quality diamonds it can still not look quite right if the accents are more clear than the main gem.

A second consideration is gem clarity. Again the main diamond must have a better clarity than the accent gems. It should be a level higher in terms of clarity grading because frankly you should not have accent diamonds out shining the main gem.

Diamond Accent Pricing

Purchasing a single diamond and displaying it as a solitaire does make for a more simple option when it comes to engagement rings but sometimes you do want that little extra. If you decide to use accent diamonds you will inevitably be paying more money.

Just like all diamonds of quality these accent pieces will have a value based on the 4 C’s of carat, cut, color and clarity. You will also want to find stones that match as closely as possible to ensure symmetry of the ring.

Each diamond is different and unique so this can take time pickling out the correct smaller diamonds to accent the main gem. The one benefit of these diamonds however is that they are generally of lower quality and obviously they are much smaller.

Smaller lower quality accent diamonds then tend to cost far less than the main diamonds which will help to keep your ring creation more affordable. On average depending on the quality level you will probably pay $400 - $1000 per carat for accent diamonds.

Best Sizes for Accent Diamonds

The actual sizes of diamonds you will use is going to depend on the style you intend to adopt. If you are creating a three-stone engagement ring then the two accent diamonds should be no more than half the size of the main gem. Ideally the combined table of the two accent gems should also be equal to that of the main diamond.

If you are looking to create a pave setting you will need even smaller gems with the suggested ratio being no more than 1/6 of the size of the main diamond in the ring.

Final Thoughts

Accent diamonds are a fantastic addition to a quality piece of jewelry and when executed correctly can turn a great diamond ring into something truly special. Although some favor the simplicity of a solitaire others feel drawn toward the more complex ring settings.

These smaller diamonds when used correctly have the power to make a single quality diamond look so much better. Using the sparkle of these lesser diamonds the bigger gemstone can up its game in magnificent ways.

Reference Diamond Size Chart

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