Keep reading as we take a deep dive into Leo cut diamonds, analyze their features, discuss their market value and where you can sell them for the highest cash offers.
Get the answers to the following questions:
- What is a Leo cut diamond?
- What is unique about Leo cut diamonds?
- What are Leo cut diamonds worth?
- Where can I sell diamonds?
What Is A Leo Cut Diamond?
Leo cut diamonds are exclusive to Kay Jewelers and were introduced in 1993 by diamond cutter Leo Schachter. What sets this patented cut apart from standard diamonds is that they are crafted with additional facets (the flat surfaces on diamonds). For example, standard round diamonds have 57 or 58 facets, while a round Leo cut diamond has 66 facets. Leo cuts are available in a variety of diamond shapes including rounds, princesses, emeralds, radiants, marquise and cushions, all crafted with additional faceting in comparison to their standard counterparts.
Leo cut diamond rings are easy to spot as the interior of their bands have “THE LEO” inscribed with the “O” replaced by a round diamond. Furthermore, all of these diamonds are laser inscribed with a Leo ID number. While Leo cut diamond engagement rings are popular, Kay Jewelers also sells Leo diamond adorned ring enhancers, bands and jewelry such as pendants and earrings.
What Is Unique About Leo Cut Diamonds?
According to Leo Schachter, Leo cut diamonds are visibly brighter than other diamonds with comparable grades. Through Schachter’s patented faceting, light can more effectively travel through diamonds and achieve superior brilliance. There are two types of Leo cut diamonds:
- The Leo Diamond: A visibly brighter diamond cut to maximize fire, sparkle and brilliance.
- The Leo Diamond Artisan: Cut to achieve the same lighting standards as the Leo Diamond with additional attention paid to symmetry and polish.
A major selling point for Leo cut diamonds is their claim to be “the first diamond ever independently certified to be visibly brighter.” However, it is important to understand that they are saying that they are the “first” diamond certified to be visibly brighter and not the “only” diamond to achieve such a claim.
Leo Diamonds come with two diamond grading certificates one from either the GSI or IGI and the second from GemEx Systems. Unlike other diamond grading labs that detail information such as a diamond’s 4 C’s, GemEx system exclusively measures a diamond’s light performance. GemEx certificates detail how bright a diamond is in five different light settings as well as its three light performance grades from a scale of Low to Very High:
- Brilliance: White light
- Fire: Colored light
- Scintillation: Sparkle
With their GemEx certificates, Leo cut diamonds are supporting their claim that they are “independently certified to be visibly brighter.”
What Are Leo Cut Diamonds Worth?
As Leo cut diamonds are only sold at Kay Jewelers, there is a very limited market willing to buy these diamonds. Unfortunately, Leo cut diamond’s exclusivity means that they are not as easily sold on the second-hand market in comparison to standard diamonds cuts or specialty diamond cuts from luxury brands such as Tiffany & Co.’s Tiffany True Diamond.
If you own a Leo cut diamond, you know firsthand that they are not cheap. For example, a 1 ct. round Leo Artisan diamond might be priced at over $8,000 while a comparable round diamond from an online diamond retailer might be priced at $3,000 - $4,000. Leo cut diamonds limited salability paired with their high price tags mean that you will not be able to recoup what you paid for them.
The value of your Leo cut diamond is largely dependent on its 4 C’s:
- Carat Weight: How much a diamond weighs in carats, often abbreviated to ct. Make sure you know the weight of the largest diamond as well as any additional diamonds your jewelry may have.
- Cut Grade: How well cut a round diamond is on a scale of Excellent to Poor. Keep in mind that there are no official cut grades for fancy cut diamonds such as princess or emerald cut diamonds.
- Clarity Grade: Denotes the amount of internal and external marks a diamond has on a scale of FL (flawless) to I3 (visibly flawed).
- Color Grade: How much yellow/brown color a diamond displays on a scale of D (colorless) to Z (light yellow).
Where Can I Sell Diamonds?
While myGemma does not buy Leo cut diamonds, we do buy a wide range of loose diamonds (0.5ct+) and diamond jewelry.
In 2012, myGemma was founded to provide a high-end, trustworthy and competitive diamond selling process. Our team of GIA trained gemologists and dedicated client managers are committed to getting you the highest offers on your diamonds.
Unlike many diamond buyers with long selling processes and hidden fees, selling to myGemma is so easy and fast that the entire selling process can take as little as 24 hours, without a penny deducted in fees. We buy your jewelry outright with immediate payment. It’s easy to see why we have an A+ with the BBB and hundreds of outstanding customer reviews.
How it works:
- Complete our online form to get your price quote.
- Receive your bespoke quote.
- Schedule an appointment at one of our offices or use request a fully insured, trackable and overnight shipping label to send your diamond to our office.
- Receive your final offer and accept payment by wire or check. If you do not love your offer, we will return your diamond to you the next business day for free.
Click the button below to begin selling your diamonds to the industry experts.
