Round brilliant remained the sparklers of choice for US consumers, featuring 82% of natural diamond jewellery pieces ( Natural Diamond Trends 2025 Overview) . Round diamonds are a timeless classic; there is no disputing that. However, 2025 also saw strong growth in LGD long fancy shapes, led by marquises and emerald cuts, continuing a growing shift in popularity for fancy shapes, such as pear, oval, princess and radiant cuts.
Fancy diamonds have incredible appeal because they blend traditional beauty with a unique vibe. The radiant cut, for example, is rectangular shape and perfectly symmetric corners are engineered for balance and beauty, bow -tie effect minimized, and brilliance maximized. With their unusual and stylish cuts, fancy diamonds captivate consumers but also present a serious challenge for accurate cut grading.
Fancy cut diamonds are inherently more complex than round diamonds. Each shape has its own unique proportions, faceting patterns, and visual characteristics. This variety makes it difficult to determine accurate cut grades. Unlike round diamonds, which have well-defined standards for cut quality, fancy shapes have numerous variables that affect light performance and must be considered to determine their true visual appeal and value.
Historically, grading systems for fancy shapes have focused primarily on basic outline measurements and facet arrangements. While these elements are important, they don’t fully capture how a diamond actually performs in real-world lighting conditions. In other words, two diamonds with similar proportions on paper can look completely different to the eye. That’s where innovation in cut grading becomes essential.
The 8X® Ultimate Diamond Cut Grade from GCAL was developed to address this exact gap in the industry.
Rather than relying solely on theoretical proportion ranges, GCAL’s system evaluates measurable optical performance, including: brilliance, fire, scintillation, symmetry, and light leakage. A diamond must pass strict performance criteria across multiple categories to earn the 8X designation.
For fancy-cut diamonds, this provides something the market has long lacked: objective, performance-based validation of beauty. Launched in 2022 with oval and princess shapes, GCAL by Sarine lab today grades six shapes: round, pear, oval, princess, marquise, and radiant. Two additional shapes — long cushion and emerald — will be added soon.
Only diamonds that meet the stringent 8X criteria received the exclusive GCAL 8X certification.
Watch Erick Castille, Senior Technical Operations & Research Specialist at GCAL by Sarine, walk you through the 8X grading process👇
The 8X® Certificate: Where it All Comes Together
Every 8X certified fancy diamond comes with a certificate that provides in-depth detail about its features and light performance for each parameter. The certificate includes high-resolution images and video that support the findings of the 8X analysis, providing a rich visual experience and peace of mind about the diamond’s beauty and quality.
GCAL 8X certificates include several added-value features that enhance the buying experience for fancy cuts:
In a highly competitive market, differentiation is the key to winning customer trust. By Combining 8 independently verified performance metrics with a 100% money - back guarantee, GCAL 8X delivers unmatched diamond information and transparency that build instant customer confidence.
The result?
Stronger credibility from the very first conversation
A shift from price- driven comparisons to proven performance
Higher conversation rates and more profitable diamond sales
Retailers often struggle to guide customers in selecting fancy shaped diamonds, due to the lack of accurate, standardized and detailed cut quality information. With 8X cut grading, the process is simplified and clear, providing a scientifically-backed and verified assessment of each fancy diamond’s true light performance, beauty, and quality.
GCAL’s 8X method ensures that only diamonds meeting the highest standards of brilliance, fire, scintillation, symmetry, and proportions are certified, making it easier for both retailers and customers to identify the ideal fancy diamond for their taste and budget.
Watch Rapaport’s Joshua Freeman in discussion with Angelo Palmieri, President of GCAL by Sarine, and leading U.S. retailers.
Hear directly from Paul Cassarino, President of Gem Lab, and Randall Cole, President of Diamond Vault of Troy, as they share how 8X helps close more profitable diamond sales.👇 👇
This month, a new diamond jewelry collection by Nima Jewellers, created exclusively for retailers across the UK, was launched. The collection features GCAL by Sarine 8X precision-cut diamonds, representing the highest standard of documented cut performance and craftsmanship.
The 8X cut grading system is a significant advancement in the diamond industry, providing an accurate assessment of fancy cuts for the first time. Backed by advanced technology and extensive research on one million fancy diamonds, GCAL by Sarine has set a new standard for cut quality, helping retailers and consumers alike appreciate the true beauty and value of fancy-shaped diamonds.
As momentum builds across the U.S. and international markets, the 8X Cut Grade is clearly trending among retailers who want greater transparency, stronger differentiation, and more profitable diamond sales.
Curious to learn more about the 8X Cut Grade, how it works, and what it can do for your business? Connect with us , give your customers a new standard of confidence, and convert more sales.