Hi Kevin,
I really like the earrings with the yellow princess cut diamonds -
the square is what was called for in that design and with those
opals. Likewise the ring with the inlaid opals with the princess cut
colourless diamond in between. The square fits much better than
something like a round would have done. Beautiful pieces. Thanks for
letting us have a look.
Helen
UK
The notion that there's something wrong with a square shape is most curious - even mystifying.
As I recall I described square shape as dull and boring and it did
imply that is would be wrong for a designer to use it, unless a
specific reason exist. This is quite different from your
characterization that “there is something wrong with square shape”.
A designer who can't work with a square shape is no designer at all, I'd say.
I guess I can post my bio, but that would be like male locker room
contest approach. Instead I would like to point out that Ad Hominem
attacks do not advance the argument. If you can offer some evidence
of
wide spread use of the square shape in Art and Architecture, that
would be a valid point towards your position.
For myself, I'd say you could throw out a concept (sticks, cheese, astronomy, mud) and I could make something with it.
This point totally escapes me. Can you elaborate further?
Design is unlimited unless the designer is limited
The whole point of designer education is to limit and to temper
unbridled enthusiasm of a beginner by a self-imposed constrains
resulting from a well structured exposure to the philosophical
underpinnings of artistic expression.
The princess cut is here to stay - deal with it
As are the cockroaches. But it does not mean that we have to retire
all the exterminators.
Leonid Surpin.
Thank you John and Doc,
The princess cut is here to stay - deal with it. It's not an ideal cut round diamond, but so what? Neither is jade or ruby or sapphire. Basic setting for them is easy, btw, as many setters here will attest.
Before starting to design and make jewellery I was designing gardens
and I’ve used the square even if it doesn’t exist in nature. I’m
also now easily setting princess cuts in bezels I’ve made. I’ve made
the mistakes and learned a lot for that type of setting. I need to
learn to prong set now (starting with rounds of course).
Helen
I use princess cut diamonds frequently. I like the look as do many of my customers. See my web site under rings and see earrings also to see how I use them.
Well, Kevin, I only spotted two pieces with princess cut stones
(which I rather like, too), but it was a lot of fun looking through
the stuff-- very pretty! I especially liked the bead and opal
necklace. I would SO wear that! Thanks for attaching your site.
And also, thanks for the first line of your post-- I found it quite
endearing.
Noel
Well Leonid,
Take one look at Fibonacci if you don’t think that squares exist in
nature. Put together squares with sides the length of the Fibonacci
numbers and you come up with the spirals found in nature.
Squares in architecture? The first architect who probably comes to
mind for anyone would be Frank Lloyd Wright. He was very fond of the
square and used it to form the basis of many of his building
designs.
Also look at the pyramids of Egypt. You may have to be in a
helicopter to see it, but they are square from the top.
The whole point of designer education is to limit and to temper unbridled enthusiasm of a beginner by a self-imposed constrains resulting from a well structured exposure to the philosophical underpinnings of artistic expression.
I couldn’t disagree more with this statement! My experience of
design education was quite the opposite and John’s point about
“sticks, cheese, astronomy, mud” was that a true designer can
materialise a design given any starting point. For me, that summed up
a good designer.
I really didn’t mean to open up a can of worms with this one - come
to think of it I didn’t even start this thread, but piggybacked onto
someone else’s princess cut woes! Oh well, a healthy debate is good
for one now and again. 
Helen
UK
Hi Helen,
Your response reminded me that I had wanted to point out earlier that
Mother Nature does indeed create squares. One need only look at salt
crystals, lead crystals, fluorite crystals, etc., to see the square
faces of those perfect little cubes. I’m having trouble thinking f an
example of a naturally occurring round shape, though. Spheres, yes,
but what has a round planar surface in Nature? I’m sure there’s
something, but perhaps Nature’s tastes differ from others here.
Wayne
Helen,
During my 21-year stint in custom jewelry I would have to say that
the round diamond was the most popular choice. But right behind it
was the Princess or other fancy square shapes including the Radiant,
which has (slightly) cut corners.
For a good 5-7 year period, we sold as many square-ish cuts as
rounds, probably because we developed quite a few attractive, bold
styles for them. Fashion tastes change, and during the period where
heavy and more bold pieces were the fashion, the Princess certainly
predominated, at least in my little world.
In the end. it is a matter of taste, but some folks definitely
prefer the more decisive and somewhat heavier, angular look. And
some don’t.
Wayne
Thanks Wayne, I’m glad others use and like the princess cut and its
square cousins. I love the princess cut as everyone now knows. I also
really like the square radiant cut but I’m not a fan of the Asscher
cut. But if I get into the type of custom work where customers ask me
for an Asscher cut stone, then that is what they would get. I
wouldn’t attempt to talk them out of their choice because it’s not to
my tastes. That just wouldn’t make any business sense.
Helen
UK