Hearts and Arrows Lab Grown Diamonds: Understanding Super Ideal Cuts

Among the highest echelon of diamond cutting, the "Hearts and Arrows" designation represents the pinnacle of precision. These super ideal cut lab grown diamonds display perfect optical symmetry — a level of cutting mastery that transforms an already beautiful gem into something truly extraordinary.

What Are Hearts and Arrows?

Hearts and Arrows (H&A) refers to a specific pattern of light and dark visible in precisely cut round brilliant diamonds when viewed through a special scope (Hearts and Arrows viewer or Idealscope):

Eight hearts — visible when viewing the diamond from the bottom (pavilion side). Eight symmetrical heart shapes radiate from the center.
Eight arrows — visible when viewing from the top (crown side). Eight perfectly symmetrical arrows point outward from the center.

These patterns can only appear when every facet is cut to exacting proportions with perfect symmetry.

What Makes a Super Ideal Cut

A Hearts and Arrows diamond exceeds even the "Excellent" cut grade in terms of precision:

Parameter	Standard Excellent	Hearts & Arrows
Table %	54-57%	54-56%
Depth %	59-62.3%	60.5-61.5%
Crown Angle	34-35°	34.3-34.8°
Pavilion Angle	40.6-41°	40.6-40.9°
Symmetry	Excellent	Excellent (optical symmetry verified)
Polish	Excellent	Excellent
Girdle	Thin to Medium	Thin to Medium (consistent)
Culet	None to Very Small	None (pointed)

The tolerances for H&A diamonds are razor-thin — even a 0.5° variation in facet angle can break the pattern.

The Science Behind the Pattern

The Hearts and Arrows pattern appears because of total internal reflection at precisely aligned facet angles:

Each of the 57 facets must be exactly the right size and angle relative to every adjacent facet
The eight main pavilion facets must be perfectly aligned to create the heart pattern
The eight bezel facets on the crown must correspond exactly to create the arrow pattern
The star facets and lower girdle facets must bridge between these mains with precise symmetry

This level of precision means the diamond handles light with maximum efficiency — every ray that enters is reflected back through the crown in a perfectly balanced pattern of brilliance, fire, and scintillation.

How to Verify Hearts and Arrows

Using an H&A Viewer

A Hearts and Arrows viewer is a simple optical device that shows the pattern:

View from the top: look for 8 symmetrical arrows radiating from center
View from the bottom: look for 8 symmetrical hearts with defined shafts and lobes
Each heart and arrow should be identical in size, shape, and position

What to Watch For

Not all diamonds marketed as "Hearts and Arrows" are truly H&A. Look for:

Complete patterns — all 8 hearts and all 8 arrows should be fully formed
Symmetry — patterns should be identical in size and evenly spaced
Clean separation — hearts should have distinct shafts without merging into neighboring hearts
Arrow alignment — arrows should point directly outward, not bent or misshapen

Near-H&A vs True H&A

Many diamonds show partially formed patterns — perhaps 6 complete hearts or arrows that are slightly uneven. These "near-H&A" diamonds are still excellent stones but don't command the H&A premium.

Lab Grown Diamonds and H&A

Lab grown diamonds are particularly well-suited for H&A cutting because:

Controlled growth conditions produce crystals with fewer internal stresses that could cause cutting irregularities
Lower raw material cost means cutters can prioritize precision over weight retention
More consistent crystal quality enables more reliable achievement of tight tolerances
The result: a higher percentage of lab grown diamonds can achieve true H&A status compared to mined rough

Is the Premium Worth It?

Arguments For

Maximum light performance — H&A diamonds demonstrably return more light than standard Excellent cuts
Rarity and prestige — only a small percentage of all diamonds achieve true H&A status
Resale value — premium cut quality holds value better
Personal satisfaction — knowing you own the best of the best

Arguments Against

Invisible to naked eye — the H&A pattern itself is only visible through a special viewer, not in normal wear
Standard Excellent is beautiful — the visual difference between standard Excellent and H&A is subtle
Investment allocation — the 10-20% premium could be spent on a larger diamond or better color/clarity

The Verdict

If you prioritize absolute maximum light performance and the knowledge that your diamond represents the apex of cutting art, H&A is worth the premium. If you prioritize size and visual impact, a standard Excellent cut delivers 95% of the visual result at a lower cost.

H&A in Settings

Hearts and Arrows diamonds show their best in settings that maximize light exposure:

Prong settings — allow maximum light entry from all sides
Solitaire designs — let the diamond's precision cutting be the sole focus
Stud earrings — viewed head-on where the arrow pattern enhances apparent brilliance

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