Hearts and Arrows Diamonds: A Complete Guide
Updated: Oct 7
A hearts and arrows diamond is a round brilliant with a high degree of optical symmetry. Viewed through a dedicated scope, it reveals eight arrows from the crown and eight hearts from the pavilion. These patterns are reflections created by the arrangement of its facets, offering a visible indication of cutting precision. Both natural and lab-grown diamonds can display hearts and arrows. [1]
For a buyer, the value of hearts and arrows lies in making fine differences in facet alignment easier to see and compare. Understanding a diamond’s overall appearance also requires a closer look at its proportions, brightness, fire and scintillation, as well as the conditions in which it is viewed.
At RAGAZZA, we believe that meaningful diamond comparisons should be grounded in evidence. This guide explains how hearts and arrows patterns form, how they relate to cut grades, and what to check when choosing a diamond.
Contents
The Origins of Hearts and Arrows
The development of hearts and arrows is closely linked to research into diamond reflection patterns in Japan. In a historical discussion, GIA describes how Kazumi Okuda’s work on a reflective viewing device around 1980 contributed to the development of the Japanese FireScope. Hearts and arrows viewers later evolved from this family of tools. [2]
These instruments made it easier for cutters and buyers to examine the way reflections align within a diamond. As precision cutting and image documentation developed, hearts and arrows became an established term for a particular form of optical symmetry in round brilliant diamonds.
What Is a Hearts and Arrows Diamond?
Round Brilliant Faceting and Optical Symmetry
A modern round brilliant usually has 57 facets, or 58 if the culet is cut as a small flat facet rather than a point. Creating a consistent hearts and arrows pattern depends on how precisely the facets’ angles, dimensions and orientation work together. [3][7]
Under the right viewing conditions, reflections from different facets overlap to form the hearts and arrows. The clarity and consistency of these patterns reflect the coordination between facets; the shapes are not physically engraved inside the diamond. [1]
Hearts and Arrows vs 3EX
On a typical GIA grading report for a natural round brilliant, 3EX, or Triple Excellent, means that cut, polish and symmetry are all graded Excellent. [4]
The symmetry grade assesses the alignment of the diamond’s facets and outline, including features such as an off-centre table or uneven facet junctions. A hearts and arrows inspection looks at the consistency of the reflected patterns as a whole. A 3EX grade alone therefore cannot establish whether a diamond meets a particular hearts and arrows standard. [4][7]
Comparison | What it assesses | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
3EX | The report’s cut, polish and symmetry grades | Read all three grades and review the proportions |
Hearts and arrows | Heart and arrow reflection patterns in a dedicated scope | Check both views of the same diamond |
Overall appearance | Brightness, fire, scintillation and contrast | Compare in consistent lighting and gently move the stones |
Understanding the Hearts and Arrows Patterns
The Eight Arrows
With the crown facing the viewer, a hearts and arrows scope reveals eight arrows arranged around the centre. Look for complete arrowheads and shafts, similar widths, and a balanced arrangement in all eight directions. Recognising eight approximate arrow shapes is only the starting point of an assessment.
The Eight Hearts
Turn an unmounted diamond over so that the pavilion faces the viewer to examine the eight hearts. Compare their size and outlines, the balance between each heart’s two sides, and the spacing around them. Both views matter: a photograph of the arrows cannot substitute for a photograph of the hearts.
IGI’s glossary explains that pattern precision depends on facet angles, lengths, widths and orientation. [7] The observations above provide a practical basis for comparison. Whether a diamond qualifies as hearts and arrows should be assessed against the criteria used by the relevant laboratory or supplier.
The hearts and arrows also carry associations with love and commitment, which can add personal meaning to an engagement ring or commemorative piece. Their gemmological significance remains rooted in the way the diamond is cut and reflects light.
How to Use a Hearts and Arrows Scope
A hearts and arrows scope creates a controlled reflective environment that makes facet patterns easier to distinguish. Red, blue or dark areas in scope photographs come from the viewing setup and photographic conditions; they do not indicate the diamond’s body colour. [1][2]
Start with a clean diamond, positioned level and centrally in the scope. Examine the arrows from the crown, then the hearts from the pavilion. When comparing diamonds, use the same instrument and camera settings so that differences in positioning, focus or exposure are not mistaken for differences in cutting.
A setting can obstruct the pavilion of a mounted diamond. If hearts and arrows are an important part of your purchase, obtain the relevant images before the diamond is set and check that they correspond to the stone you are buying.
Scope images help you assess reflection patterns, while a 360° video shows how a diamond looks as it turns. They serve different purposes. GIA’s research also cautions against treating reflector images as a complete measurement of light return, fire or scintillation. [6]
Every RAGAZZA showroom has a hearts and arrows scope available for customers to use. Our consultants can guide you through the patterns on your chosen diamond. For a mounted stone, the extent to which the pavilion can be viewed will depend on the setting.
What Hearts and Arrows Can Tell You
Visible Evidence of Precision
Clear, balanced hearts and arrows provide a visible indication of precise facet alignment. For buyers who appreciate fine craftsmanship, the patterns turn the abstract concept of optical symmetry into something they can examine directly.
A Closer Comparison Within the Same Grade
Two diamonds with similar grading reports may still show different reflection patterns. Used alongside proportion data and direct observation, a hearts and arrows inspection offers a more detailed comparison and helps you identify the cutting style you prefer.
Looking Beyond the Pattern
Brightness describes the white light a diamond displays. Fire refers to the coloured flashes produced by dispersion. Scintillation encompasses the changes in sparkle and light-and-dark patterns as the diamond, light source or observer moves. These qualities are related, but no single hearts and arrows photograph can capture them all. [5]
In its 2004 study of round brilliant cut quality, GIA found that many diamonds with pronounced optical symmetry received high appearance ratings, but not all did. Some diamonds without obvious optical symmetry patterns received equally high ratings. [5] Hearts and arrows can be a useful feature, while overall appearance still calls for a broader assessment.
Pay attention to the balance of bright and dark areas and how that balance changes as the diamond tilts. Contrast helps define facets and flashes of light. A large dark area that remains concentrated in one position deserves a closer look. [6]
Craftsmanship and Personal Meaning
For those who appreciate fine cutting, hearts and arrows offer a way to see the care invested in facet alignment. Their association with love and commitment can also give an engagement ring or anniversary gift personal meaning.
How to Choose a Hearts and Arrows Diamond
Confirm the Diamond’s Identity and Report
Check whether the diamond is natural or lab-grown, the grading laboratory, report number and measurements. Where a girdle inscription is present, check it against the report. For a hearts and arrows purchase, also establish whether the supplied documents include a specific assessment of the pattern. IGI offers dedicated Hearts & Arrows reports for both natural and lab-grown diamonds, alongside origin and 4C information. [1]
Request Both Views of the Actual Diamond
Ask for hearts and arrows images of the diamond you are considering, identified by its report number or stock reference. Illustrations can explain the concept, but your purchase decision should be based on the individual stone’s records and images.
Read the Proportions and Compare the Appearance
Beyond cut, polish and symmetry grades, review the table percentage, total depth, crown angle, pavilion angle and girdle. These measurements need to be considered together. An individual angle falling within a commonly preferred range does not, by itself, verify the diamond’s overall quality.
Where possible, compare diamonds under soft indoor lighting, a more concentrated point light source and everyday natural light, gently moving each stone. Keep the lighting, viewing distance and background consistent. Look for the combination of brightness, coloured flashes and scintillation that appeals to you.
Balance Craftsmanship, Budget and Purpose
How much priority to give hearts and arrows depends on your interest in cutting precision, optical patterns and overall appearance. When comparing prices, consider origin, carat weight, colour, clarity and cut quality together. The hearts and arrows label alone does not explain every price difference.
How RAGAZZA Combines DAII™ with Direct Observation
At RAGAZZA, grading reports and specification data provide the starting point for comparison, supported by examining the diamond itself. For round diamonds, DAII™ and a hearts and arrows inspection bring complementary information to the selection process.
DAII™—the Diamond Artificial Intelligence Index—is RAGAZZA’s diamond assessment model. It combines 16 data points, including colour, clarity, cut, polish, symmetry and several proportion measurements, into a score that supports comparison. [8] Read how DAII™ helps with diamond selection to understand why diamonds with similar headline specifications can still differ.
Our Internal Findings: Proportions and Pattern Definition
Before launching DAII™, RAGAZZA tested the model using more than 100 diamond samples. Within the cut assessment, we observed that diamonds with higher scores in the Proportions component generally displayed more distinct hearts and arrows patterns. Observations by our purchasing team during everyday selection, and by our sales team when sampling diamonds and explaining comparisons to customers, have been consistent with this trend. [9]
Our internal testing and practical observations indicate a relatively strong positive association between the DAII™ Proportions score and the definition of the hearts and arrows pattern. The relationship is not necessarily linear: an increase in score does not imply a fixed, proportional improvement in pattern clarity. This is a finding from RAGAZZA’s internal testing and experience. [9]
It is important to distinguish the Proportions score from the overall DAII™ score, which also reflects factors such as colour and clarity. The Proportions component is more directly relevant when comparing hearts and arrows patterns. A higher score offers a useful screening indicator, followed by a scope inspection to check the individual diamond’s hearts, arrows and consistency of alignment.
DAII™ Screening, Followed by a Scope Inspection
When selecting diamonds for customers, RAGAZZA uses DAII™ to assess quality data and a hearts and arrows scope to check whether the stone displays a desirable pattern. This scope inspection is one of the steps in our selection process, allowing the data and the observed pattern to be considered together.
Customers can use a hearts and arrows scope at every RAGAZZA showroom, with guidance from a consultant. The pattern adds information about cutting precision; colour, clarity, overall appearance and budget remain part of the wider decision.
By bringing data and observation together, we help you understand each diamond’s strengths and trade-offs within your budget. For more detail on the model’s parameters and scoring approach, see our introduction to DAII™.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is every 3EX diamond a hearts and arrows diamond?
A1. A 3EX grade alone cannot confirm this. It refers to the cut, polish and symmetry grades on the report. Hearts and arrows require an examination of both reflection patterns under the appropriate viewing conditions, using a defined set of assessment criteria.
Q2. Can lab-grown diamonds display hearts and arrows?
A2. Yes. Both natural and lab-grown diamonds can be precisely cut to produce hearts and arrows. Origin and optical symmetry describe different aspects of a diamond and should be checked separately. [1]
Q3. Can I see hearts and arrows with the naked eye?
A3. In suitable lighting and at the right angle, you may see an arrow-like arrangement of light and dark areas from the top. A dedicated scope is needed to inspect both patterns properly. The hearts view usually requires an unmounted diamond.
Q4. Does seeing eight hearts mean the patterns are all equally good?
A4. You still need to compare the completeness, shape and consistency of the hearts, as well as the arrows. Counting eight hearts is not a substitute for assessing the pattern as a whole.
Q5. Will a hearts and arrows diamond always sparkle more?
A5. That cannot be guaranteed. Hearts and arrows describe a particular form of optical symmetry. Overall appearance also depends on proportions, contrast, viewing conditions and personal preference. GIA’s observational research found that some diamonds without obvious hearts and arrows patterns still received very high appearance ratings. [5]
Q6. Does every hearts and arrows diamond come with a dedicated report?
A6. Check the documents supplied with the individual stone. A general grading report, a dedicated hearts and arrows report and a retailer’s scope images record different information. Ask your consultant to explain what each document establishes. [1]
Q7. Are hearts and arrows diamonds a good choice for an engagement ring?
A7. They can be an appealing choice if you appreciate precise round brilliant cutting and the symbolism of hearts and arrows. Consider the diamond’s appearance, the setting’s proportions, comfort and budget as part of the same decision.
Q8. Does a higher DAII™ score mean a clearer hearts and arrows pattern?
A8. RAGAZZA’s internal testing of more than 100 samples before the DAII™ launch, supported by everyday purchasing and sales observations, indicates a relatively strong positive association between the Proportions component and pattern definition. It is not necessarily a linear relationship. Review that component and confirm the pattern with a scope; the overall DAII™ score also reflects colour, clarity and other factors. [9]
Q9. Can I use a hearts and arrows scope at a RAGAZZA showroom?
A9. Yes. Every RAGAZZA showroom has a scope available for customers to use, with a consultant on hand to explain the patterns. We also combine DAII™ assessment with scope inspection when selecting diamonds for customers.
To explore the hearts and arrows patterns of a diamond you are considering, book a RAGAZZA diamond consultation. Our consultants can help you review the records and compare your options. You can also browse our natural and lab-grown diamonds to find stones that match your budget and specifications.
References
[1] IGI. Hearts & Arrows Report. View source
[2] Gilbertson, A. (2013). Optimizing Face-Up Appearance in Colored Gemstone Faceting. Gems & Gemology, 49(2). See the discussion of the history of reflective viewing instruments. View source
[3] Pay, D. (2013). Describing 58-facet Round Brilliant-Cut Diamonds at GIA. GIA Research & News. View source
[4] Geurts, R. H., Reinitz, I. M., Blodgett, T., & Gilbertson, A. M. (2011). GIA’s Symmetry Grading Boundaries for Round Brilliant Cut Diamonds. Gems & Gemology, 47(4), 286–295. View source
[5] Moses, T. M., et al. (2004). A Foundation for Grading the Overall Cut Quality of Round Brilliant Cut Diamonds. Gems & Gemology, 40(3), 202–228. See the Optical Symmetry section. View source
[6] Reinitz, I., Gilbertson, A., & Guerts, R. (2020). GIA Researchers Evaluate “Light Performance” and Diamond Cut. GIA Research & News. View source
[7] IGI. Glossary. Hearts & Arrows (Pattern) entry. View source
[8] RAGAZZA DIAMOND. Why DAII™ Matters When Choosing a Diamond. Brand documentation for the assessment model. View source
[9] RAGAZZA DIAMOND. Internal model testing before the launch of DAII™ and subsequent purchasing and sales observations. More than 100 samples; unpublished internal material. The discussion of Proportions scores and pattern definition is based on the brand’s supplied findings and practical observations.
Sources accessed on 7 October 2026.
