With a total of 56 facets, a pear shaped diamond is rounded on one end and pointed on the other, resembling a teardrop.  Choose one where the girdle at the point isn't too thin, otherwise the diamond will be unstable.  An ideal cut for a pear shaped diamond must have good depth and nicely polished angles.  Like most fancy shapes, this sparkler will look good on most hands.

The largest pear shaped diamond is known as "The Star of Africa," fashioned from another famous diamond, �The Cullinan.�  This 530.20 carat stone is now among the British Crown Jewels.  Another famous pear shaped diamond is "The Idol's Eye." It weighs 70.20 carats and was once part of a devotional statue before it was stolen.