Pear Shaped Diamonds in South Africa (2026 Buyer Guide)

What makes the pear distinctive

The pear shape, historically called the pendeloque, is a brilliant cut shaped like a teardrop: rounded at one end and tapering to a single point at the other. It combines the geometry of the round brilliant and the marquise, which is why it carries the brilliance of a round while reading as elongated and elegant. In 2026 SA it is a steady favourite for engagement rings, halo pendants and drop earrings, chosen as much for how it flatters the hand as for the stone itself.

Two visual properties define the pear. First, the elongated teardrop spreads more face-up than a round of the same carat weight, so the stone wears visibly larger and is slimming and elongating on the finger. Second, that same elongation can create a bow-tie effect across the centre of the stone, a darker zone where light fails to reflect from the pavilion. Bow-tie severity varies enormously between stones and, as on the oval, is not captured in any GIA grade.

The buyer's job on any pear is to assess the bow-tie in person or on high-quality video, and to check the symmetry of the outline. As Prodiam, a Bedfordview cutting house, frames it, a pear is judged on the bench rather than from a certificate: reputable wholesalers pre-screen their pear inventory for bow-tie severity and outline symmetry, where cheap online suppliers often do not.

Length-to-width ratio and symmetry

Length-to-width ratio decides how the teardrop reads. The classic pear ratio is 1.45 to 1.55, around 1.50, which most SA buyers find the most balanced and recognisable teardrop. Some prefer a more slender 1.55 to 1.70 for a longer, more elongating look on the finger. Both are correct; it is a matter of taste, so view candidate stones at the ratio you like rather than buying on the number alone. The diamond size calculator shows the true millimetre footprint of any carat and ratio to scale.

Symmetry matters more on a pear than on almost any other shape. The point must line up with the apex of the rounded end so the stone is not lopsided, and the two shoulders (the curved sides where the round end meets the taper) must be even, with the wings neither too flat nor too bulged. A pear whose point pulls off-centre, or whose shoulders are uneven, looks wrong on the finger no matter how good its other grades are. Diamond Guide SA treats outline symmetry as a pass-or-fail check that you make with your own eyes.

Pear pricing in 2026 South Africa

On SA wholesale, a 1.00 carat GIA G/VS1 pear (Excellent polish, Excellent symmetry) typically runs R58,000 to R78,000, against R75,000 to R95,000 on the equivalent round; at SA retail (Shimansky, Browns) the same pear typically runs R88,000 to R125,000. At 1.50 carat, SA wholesale runs R122,000 to R168,000 on G/VS1. At 2.00 carat, SA wholesale runs R250,000 to R335,000.

The 10 to 25 per cent discount versus equivalent rounds reflects lower per-carat demand and a slightly higher cutting yield from rough, since the elongated outline retains more of the original crystal. Buyers who care more about visual size and a distinctive silhouette than shape prestige get more diamond per Rand in pear form. For the maths behind the gap between the two columns, see the wholesale versus retail pricing breakdown.

Premium colour grades (D, E, F) at pear are slightly less common in SA inventory than in round, simply because the round brilliant is the dominant shape. One detail specific to the pear: the point concentrates colour, so on warmer stones any tint shows first at the tip. In a white-metal setting, G to H reads near-colourless across the whole stone, which is why it remains the value sweet spot. The diamond clarity and colour chart sets out where each grade sits.

What to insist on in a pear

View the bow-tie in person or on high-quality video before committing. Reputable wholesalers will share a video on request. The bow-tie should be subtle and barely visible from a normal viewing distance; if it creates a clear dark band across the centre of the stone, decline and ask to see another. At the same time, check that the point lines up with the apex of the rounded end and that the shoulders are even.

Insist on GIA certification with Excellent polish and Excellent symmetry. GIA does not award an overall Cut grade on pears (that grade only applies to round brilliants), so the polish and symmetry grades, read alongside your own inspection of the outline and bow-tie, are the closest proxies for cut quality. Aim for a length-to-width ratio you have actually looked at, in the 1.45 to 1.70 band.

The point is the vulnerable spot on a pear and is where chips happen, so it must be protected by a V-prong, a prong shaped to cradle and shield the tip. Confirm the setting uses a V-prong at the point before buying. Finally, verify the GIA report number on GIA Report Check before paying, the standard step on any GIA-certified centre stone.

Pear settings: what works

Pears are almost always worn with the point toward the hand, which lengthens the finger and is the orientation most SA buyers choose. A solitaire with a V-prong at the point is the timeless setting and puts every Rand into the diamond. A halo (small accent diamonds following the teardrop outline) makes the centre look larger and adds sparkle, and a three-stone setting with the pear flanked by two smaller stones reads beautifully because the taper leads the eye along the band.

Whatever the style, the non-negotiable detail is the V-prong protecting the point; a standard round prong leaves the tip exposed. On larger pears (1.50 carat plus) a five-prong arrangement (a V at the point plus four around the curve) adds security. A wholesale-margin workshop builds pear settings to order in 3 to 4 weeks. A typical halo in 18kt white gold with 0.20 carat total accent diamonds runs R18,000 to R26,000 at wholesale, versus R28,000 to R44,000 at SA retail.

Where to buy a pear in SA in 2026

For a GIA-certified pear on wholesale margin, our top value pick is Prodiam in Bedfordview, a wholesale-to-public cutting house that polishes to GIA Excellent specifications, pre-screens its pear inventory for bow-tie severity and outline symmetry, and sets the point with a V-prong as standard. Its working stock spans 0.50 to 4.00 carats with deepest coverage in the 1.00 to 2.00 carat engagement range.

Cape Diamonds carries a meaningful pear inventory in Cape Town for buyers who prefer local handling and an in-person viewing on the coast. Pricing typically runs 15 to 25 per cent above wholesale.

Premium retailers (Shimansky, Browns) offer pears at retail-tier pricing, often with bespoke setting design as the primary value-add. The stone itself runs 30 to 40 per cent above wholesale on like-for-like grades. If a pear is destined for an engagement ring, our broader engagement ring guide covers settings, budgets and the centre-stone trade-offs in full.

Guidance and sources

Frequently Asked Questions