The names that describe the different parts of polished diamonds with fancy cuts have been largely borrowed from description of human or animal body parts.
Pear cut
On one side there is the ‘Head’ and ‘Shoulders’, and on the other side there is the Edge, Point. In the middle there is the Belly, and from the Belly in the middle are extruded Wings, which curve towards the Point, or on either side of it.
Oval cut
There are two Heads with Shoulders, and in the middle, a Belly.
Marquise cut
There is no Head at all (it is unnecessary) but there are two Points. In the center, the Belly and the Wings that drop in a nice curved line from the Belly to the Points (the French also call the ‘Marquise’ after a word for boat, ‘Navette’).
Heart cut
Instead of a Head with Shoulders, it has Shoulders with no Head, but with a point in the middle, and at the other end a Point with Wings outstretched in the direction of the Belly (and they lived happily ever after). The Belly is generally in the middle of the diamond, underneath the Head and Shoulders. The nice Belly is gently rounded in an arc downwards towards the point.
