Diamond Macles

Diamond macles are little known to the public but are popular amongst gemologists. Thanks to industry leads such as De Beers, diamonds are revered globally as the ruler of the gemstone world. Their iconic cut forms are well known symbols of luxury. However, natural diamond crystals can equally contain multitudes of beauty and mystery.

Diamond Crystallography

Diamonds form with cubic/isometric crystal structures. This doesn’t mean diamond crystals necessarily form in a cube shape. It means the basic repeated pattern within a diamond crystal if you zoomed in on an atomic level is cubic. This basic repeated pattern is called a ‘unit cell’. 

This cubic unit cell leads to diamonds forming in a number of different shapes on the level we can see them. These are called crystal habits. An octahedral crystal habit is amongst the most commonly seen in diamonds (two square-based pyramids with their bases against each other). One flat side of a crystal is referred to as a face. So, in the case of an octahedral crystal each triangular-shape side of a diamond crystal is called an octahedral face.

The shapes of these octahedral crystals have to be kept in mind when cutters are trying to make the most out of the rough pieces they are dealing with. Which is what eventually led to the round-brilliant cut being recognised as the cut that maximises both the brilliance of the diamond, and the yield/amount of diamond kept from being wasted.

Diamond Macles

Recently, setting diamonds in their crystal forms in order to better appreciated their natural beauty is growing in popularity. Macles, another diamond crystal habit popular with gemmologists and collectors, have received this treatment in particular. ‘Macle’ refers to flat triangular-shaped crystals that show only two octahedral faces (one on either side) due to crystal twinning. Crystal twinning in this case is where two diamond crystals form intersecting each other, and at a 60- or 180-degree angle of each other, giving the resultant appearance of a flat triangle.

Macles have been spotted in the jewellery of celebrities such as Nicole Kidman, who wore two macle cuff bracelets to the Academy awards in 2007. They are well loved by gemmologists and collectors.

Diamond Macles at Auction: Lot 546

In our upcoming sale on the 19th July, with have a diamond stick pin. A perfect example of celebrating the natural form of a diamond macle. Pieces such as this stick pin, with stunning diamond macles are show-stopping collectors’ pieces. Not only proudly displaying the results of millions of years of diamond crystal formation. But also, how human hands can transform these magnificent pieces of nature into wearable art pieces.

Jewellery | Day Two – Wednesday 19th July 2023

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Find what you’re looking for

Make sure you don’t miss finding that special something by signing up to our email alerts. You’ll be the first to know when catalogues become available, receive invitations to special events and preview the hottest lots from our auctions, plus much more.

Why not use our free personal shopping service? Sign up for lot alerts and tell us exactly what you are looking for. Each time we upload a catalogue, we search for your keywords and email you lots matching your interests. Your personalised email will include images, lot descriptions and auction details.